Splenic function in non-renal systemic lupus erythematosus.

The reticuloendothelial clearance of autologous heat-damaged red blood cells was assessed in 10 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) but without clinical nephritis. Although in nine patients the disease was clinically active at the time of the test, only one patient had a prolonged half-clearance time (T 1/2). One patient who had persistently high titers of circulating immune complexes, but whose disease was clinically inactive, had a normal T 1/2. There was no correlation between the patients' age, duration of disease, disease activity, therapy or titer of circulating immune complexes and the T 1/2. It appears that a general defect in splenic function is not a universal feature of SLE and that high titers of circulating immune complexes may be found in the presence of efficient reticuloendothelial phagocytic ability.