Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R J DeHoratius

Publications and source records attributed to R J DeHoratius.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Study of circulating immune complex size in systemic lupus erythematosus.

The molecular size of circulating immune complexes in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus was determined by the C1q solid-phase assay after the sera were fractionated by sucrose-gradient ultracentrifugation. Circulating immune complexes in patients with membranous glomerulonephritis were uniformly large, sedimenting exclusively above 19S, whereas the immune complexes in patients with cerebritis were small, at or just above 7S. In lupus patients with diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis and patients without renal involvement, immune complexes of both large and small sizes were found. Of patients without renal involvement, more circulating immune complexes were associated with active disease (n = 22, prevalence = 82%, mean level = 24 standard deviations) than with inactive disease (n = 17, prevalence = 41%, mean level = 41%, mean level = 6 . 5 standard deviations). In patients with clinical evidence for renal involvement, circulating immune complexes were detected in all of five patients with membranous glomerulonephritis, in 88% of 17 patients with diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis and in one of four patients with mesangial nephritis. Thus, in addition to the finding of an overall positive correlation between disease activity and circulating immune complex levels, circulating immune complexes of certain general molecular size ranges appear to be associated with different clinical manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Adult↗

Antibodies to synthetic polyribonucleotides in spouses of patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Serum from patients with inflammatory bowel disease (I.B.D.) and their unaffected spouses bound significantly more synthetic single-stranded (poly.rA) and double-stranded (poly.rA.poly.rU) R.N.A. but not KB cell D.N.A. than did serum from age-matched controls and their spouses. Binding activity resided in Ig fractions and was predominantly of IgM class. A significant corelation was observed between the amount of double-stranded but not single-stranded R.N.A. bound by serum from patients and from their respective spouses. These findings provide indirect support for the presence of R.N.A. viruses in patients with I.B.D. and the transmission of such agents to their close personal contacts.

Antibodies, Viral↗

Immunologic function in humans before and after hyperthermia and chemotherapy for disseminated malignancy.

Multiple immunologic parameters were studied in three patients prior to and after hyperthermia treatment for disseminated malignancy. Two patients had malignant melanoma and received chemotherapy during the hyperthermia treatment. One had adenocarcinoma of the stomach and received no concomitant chemotherapy. Rapid rosettes as a measure of thymus-derived lymphocytes (T-lymphocytes) were found to increase significantly after therapy (P less than 0.05) both in percentage and absolute numbers. There was no change in the numbers or percentages of other markers for T-lymphocytes or bone marrow-derived B-lymphocytes. Complement profiles revealed a significant decrease in C3 (P less than 0.005) after hyperthermia but no change in levels of other components of the alternate pathway. Antibody-dependent lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity and polymorphonuclear cell-mediated antibody-dependent cytotoxicity were also depressed after hyperthermia. No change was observed in immunoglobulin levels with hyperthermia therapy. Results indicated that hyperthermia may favorably alter the immune balance between tumor and host in selected instances.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Antilymphocyte antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus: familial clustering of lymphocyte antigens.

Cold reactive lymphocytotoxic sera from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and their relatives were found to react with lymphocyte antigens that cluster in normal families. These antigens do not correlate with HLA-A or -B antigens in families, suggesting that they are not related to Ir genes. Further work is indicated to determine whether these antigens are controlled by several genes or involve viral products on the cell surface.

Antigens↗

Family distribution of lymphocytotoxins in Hodgkin's disease.

The prevalence of lymphocytotoxic antibody was studied in 131 relatives of 10 patients with Hodgkin's disease. The study group contained nine families, five of which had two subjects with Hodgkin's disease. One hundred twenty-eight control family members were studied in parallel. Lymphocytotoxic antibody was present in 35.5% of all family members of patients with Hodgkin's disease, and in 8.6% of controls (P less than 0.01). Lymphocytotoxic antibody appeared primarily in consanguineous relatives irrespective of close personal household contact with the probands. The prevalence of the antibody was equal in both first- and second-degree relatives. These findings suggest at least a genetic and possibly an environmental influence in the genesis of lymphocytotoxic antibody among relatives of patients with Hodgkin's disease.

Adult↗

Immunologic regulation of spontaneous antibodies to DNA and RNA I. Significance of IgM and IgG antibodies in SLE patients and asymptomatic relatives.

Nine individuals from four families of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were studied by sucrose density gradient fractionation and filter radioimmunoassay for the presence of 19S IgM and 7S IgG antibodies to DNA, poly rA, and poly rA-poly rU. One individual in each family was totally asymptomatic, and at least one had actively systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The results indicate: (1) a correlation between 7S antibody to DNA and RNA and active SLE, and (2) the presence of 19S antibody to RNA in the asymptomatic relatives. These findings suggest that SLE may be a disorder of immunological regulation. The distribution of antibodies between IgM and IgG is closely related to disease severity. the asymptomatic relatives may have a partial regulatory abnormality resulting in the limited production of IgM antibodies to RNA. SLE patients may have a more complex failure of regulation permitting the additional synthesis of IgG antibodies to DNA and RNA.

Adolescent↗

Pulmonary dysfunction in systemic lupus erythematosus without pulmonary symptoms.

Pulmonary function was measured in a group of 28 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who were free of pulmonary involvement at the time of the study. When compared with age and sex matched controls, the SLE patients had a pattern of restriction with reduced lung volumes and vital capacity. Diffusing capacity was reduced in proportion to the reduction in lung volume. This is felt to be most compatible with inapparent pleural thickening resulting in impaired lung expansion. There was no evidence of airway obstruction on maximal expiratory flow-volume curves. The effect of cigarette smoking in the SLE patients was a reduction in flows at low lung volumes, which was indistinguishable from the effects in the control smokers. Both SLE and control smokers had a significant reduction in DL/VA when compared with control nonsmokers. Pulmonary function was not influenced by the presence of renal disease.

Female↗

Serratia marcescens - caused arthritis with negative and positive birefrengent crystals.

We encountered an unusual case of arthritis caused by Serratia marcescens, with both positive and negative birefringent crystals in the same inflammatory synovial fluid. This combination of events is most likely to occur in men over 40 years old who have a predisposing illness or are receiving immunosuppressive drugs. This case shows the need to consider multiple pathological processes occurring in the same joint.

Adult↗

Lymphocytotoxic antibodies in family members of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

57% of sera from 124 relatives of 28 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were found to have antibody directed against lymphocytes. The incidence in 60 members of 16 control families was 3%. Both consanguineous and nonconsanguineous relatives had the antibody in their sera. 68% of close household contacts of the SLE patients showed lymphocytotoxic antibody whereas only 23% of consanguineous relatives who had no household contact with the probands had this antibody. These data suggest that environmental factors may be important in the pathogenesis of SLE.

Autoantibodies↗

Anti-nucleic acid antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus patients and their families. Incidence and correlation with lymphocytotoxic antibodies.

Anti-RNA antibodies were found in 82% of 28 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) probands and in 16% of 124 of their family members. The incidence in 76 control family members was only 5%. In the SLE family members, the antibodies were found exclusively in 21% of the 94 close household contacts of the probands. The incidence of anti-native DNA (nDNA) antibodies was 68% for the SLE probands. The incidence of anti-nDNA antibodies in close household contacts of the probands was 6%, which was not significantly different from the 1% incidence found in control families. Lymphocytotoxic antibodies occurred in 57% of the SLE family members as a whole and in 68% of the close household contacts. In the SLE probands, lymphocytotoxic antibodies correlated with anti-single-stranded RNA (poly A) and anti-nDNA but not with anti-double-stranded RNA (poly A-poly U). On the other hand, lymphocytotoxic antibodies in the household contacts correlated with anti-double-stranded RNA (poly A-poly U) but not with anti-poly A or anti-nDNA. The anti-RNA antibodies were present in consanguineous household contacts but not in nonconsanguineous household contacts. These findings strengthen the hypothesis that both an environmental agent, possibly a virus, as well as the genetic response are important in the pathogenesis of SLE. Family members may therefore be a logical population in whom to search for specific antibodies to a viral agent.

Adult↗

Systemic lupus erythematosus presenting as panniculitis (lupus profundus).

Six patients are described in whom panniculitis was a major manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus. These patients were seen in a combined-clinics population of 270 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus for an incidence of approximately 2%. Panniculitis was the first symptom of systemic lupus erythematosus in three of these patients indicating that systemic lupus erythematosus should be considered as an underlying cause in patients with panniculitis or Weber-Christian's disease. Analysis of these six cases and those previously reported suggests that the addition of hydroxychloroquine to the treatment regimen may be beneficial in lupus panniculitis.

Adolescent↗