Lymphocyte responsiveness in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Lymphocyte transformation to various mitogens and antogens was studied in selected patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. These patients were selected because they had taken no drug other than low-dose aspirin for 2 months prior to presentation. An impaired transformation response to the mitogens phytohemagglutinin and pokeweed was found. There was no impairment in the response to PPD and Candida. The impaired mitogen response, which could not be corrected using purified, warm-washed, and warm-cultured T lymphocytes, seemed to be a corollary of disease activity.