Brain reactivity of lymphocytotoxic antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus with and without cerebral involvement.

A prospective clinical study of cold-reactive lymphocytotoxic antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus has been completed. A highly significant association between serum lymphocytotoxicity and the development of cerebral manifestations was observed. While lymphocytotoxic antibodies from patients with cerebral lupus were absorbed by homogenates of human brain, those from patients who at no time had evidence of cerebral disease failed to cross-react with brain. It is suggested that subpopulations of lymphocytotoxic antibodies differ in their brain reactivity, and that one population may be causally related to the development of some of the features of cerebral lupus.