B cell activation in patients with active procainamide induced lupus
Forrester, J.; Golbus, J.; Brede, D.; Hudson, J.; Richardson, B.
Journal of Rheumatology 15(9): 1384-1388
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0315-162X PMID: 3264337 Document Number: 318659
Cellular immune abnormalities have been described in asymptomatic patients receiving procainamide therapy, but not in patients with active procainamide induced lupus. We tested patients with active procainamide lupus for evidence of T or B cell activation similar to that observed in idiopathic lupus. Symptomatic patients had a significant increase in spontaneous IgG synthesis, but T cells bearing activation markers were not significantly different from age matched controls. Our results demonstrated that patients with active procainamide lupus have evidence for B cell activation, similar to idiopathic lupus.