Deficient autologous mixed lymphocyte reactions correlate with disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis.

We have examined autologous mixed lymphocyte culture (AMLC) reactions in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), classical rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and in normal age and sex matched healthy control individuals. AMLC responses were found to be lower than the median of all controls and patients in 30 of 31 individuals with SLE and RA and in only 2 of 15 healthy controls. In both SLE and RA there was a statistically significant correlation of decreased AMLC reaction with disease activity. On an individual basis, there was no direct correlation between decreased AMLC reactivity, concomitant steroid therapy, or the occurrence of clinical or laboratory parameters of autoimmunity.