LYMPHOCYTE ANTIGENS IN NEUROPSYCHIATRIC SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS - RELATIONSHIP OF LYMPHOCYTE ANTIBODY SPECIFICITIES TO CLINICAL-DISEASE

Objective. To examine the relationships among specific lymphocyte anti genic reactivities of lupus sera and central nervous system complicati ons of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), lymphocytotoxic antibody (L CA) positivity, and specific cognitive impairment. Methods. Sera from 115 patients with SLE were examined for the presence of IgM- and IgG-c lass autoantibodies binding to surface target antigens on lymphocytes, by immunoblotting and microdroplet lymphocytotoxicity studies. Sevent y-three of these patients also underwent detailed neuropsychological t esting within the same time period. Results. Significant associations were found between reactivities to several lymphocyte antigenic moieti es and neuropsychiatric SLE (NPSLE) or cognitive impairment. Specifica lly, immunoblot reactivities to 31-32-kd, 50-52-kd, 54-56-kd, and 97-9 8-kd targets were associated with clinical NPSLE; there was a signific ant association between reactivity to the 50-52-kd moiety in particula r and cognitive impairment. There were also associations between LCA a nd immunoblot reactivity. Furthermore, the previously reported associa tion between LCA positivity and specific visuospatial cognitive impair ment was confirmed with data obtained from 2 different batteries of ne uropsychological tests. Conclusion. In some cases, specific antigenic targets of LCA-containing sera may be implicated in the pathogenesis o f NPSLE.