Abstract
It is already well established that systemic immunologic abnormalities have close correlation with the occurrence and progressoin of lupus nephritis. In this paper, the positive incidence of anti-T cell antibody, chronological changes of T, B, and Tγ cells subpopulations and the relation between serum IC levels and renal immunohistologic findings were examined in 46 patients with lupus nephritis. Following results were obtaind ; (1) Anti-T cell antibody was positive in 87% of patients with lupus nephritis. (2) During the exacerbation periods numbers of T and Tγ cells decreased, while those of B cells increased. (3) Marked immune deposits in glomerulus as well as extraglomerular tissues were observed in patients with high serum immune complex levels. It was concluded that serial measurements of T, B, Tγ cells, anti-T cell antibody and serum IC level serve as one of the best indicators to predict the exacerbation and further progression of lupus nephritis.
