It has been reported that immune complex (DNA-ANTI-DNA) closely related to the development of pathological events in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) . It is also well known that the immune complex mainly localized in the glomeruli and dermal-epidermal junction (D-E junction) .
The purpose of this report is to elucidate the relationship between the localization of immune complex in the skin and that in the renal tissue by using immunofluolescence procedure.
The patients used in the study are 9 cases of SLE, 8, localized DLE (1-DLE) and 3, wide spead DLE (w-DLE) . All patients were performed skin biopsies, including involved and uninvolved areas. In all patients with SLE and w-DLE, renal biopsies were carried out.
The results obtained were as follows ;
The deposition of immunogloblin (IgG, IgM, IgA) and complements (mainly C1q, C3) along the D-E junction in involved skin were observed in 6/8 (75%) in 1-DLE, 3/3 (100%) in w-DLE and 6/7 (86%) in SLE, whereas their deposition in D-E junction of un-involved areas were 0/8 (0%) in 1-DLE, 0/3 (0%) in w-DLE and 5/8 (63%) in SLE.
Severer deposits of immunogloblin along D-E junction in involved areas seemed to be found frequently in w-DLE than 1-DLE. Generally speaking, the severer deposits of immunog-loblin along D-E junction in SLE were found in involved skin, comparing to un-involved skin.
On the other hand, the renal specimens obtained from 2 cases of w-DLE revieled minimal change accompanied with deposits of immunogloblin and complements along glonmerular capillary wall. Those findings suggested the possibility of transmission to SLE from DLE.
