Immunopathogenesis of Libman-Sacks endocarditis. Assessment by light and immunofluorescent microscopy in two patients.
Open Access
- 1 December 1977
- journal article
- research article
- Published by BMJ in Annals Of The Rheumatic Diseases
- Vol. 36 (6), 508-516
- https://doi.org/10.1136/ard.36.6.508
Abstract
The possible contribution of immunological mechanisms in the development of Libman-Sacks endocarditis was studied in 2 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus who underwent aortic valve replacement. Sections of verrucous lesions, stained with haematoxylin and eosin, showed three apparently distinct zones: an outer exudative zone of fibrin, nuclear debris, and haematoxylin-stained bodies; a middle organizing zone of proliferating capillaries and fibroblasts; and an inner zone of neovascularization which showed distinct, thin-walled junctional vessels. The striking finding was the apparently selective deposition of immunoglobulins and complement identified by direct immunofluorescence, within the walls of the small junctional vessels of the zone of neovascularization. We suggest that the observed immune deposits are immune complexes and that circulating immune complexes may play a critical role in the growth and proliferation of the verrucous lesion.This publication has 28 references indexed in Scilit:
- Circulating Immune Complexes in the Serum in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and in Carriers of Hepatitis B Antigen QUANTITATION BY BINDING TO RADIOLABELED ClqJCI Insight, 1974
- The Fourth Component of Complement in the Cerebrospinal Fluid in Systemic Lupus ErythematosusArthritis & Rheumatism, 1973
- DNA:Anti-DNA Complexes: Their Detection in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus SeraJCI Insight, 1973
- A millipore filter assay for antibodies to native dna in sera of patients with systemic lupus erythematosusArthritis & Rheumatism, 1973
- SERUM AND CEREBRAL SPINAL FLUID COMPLEMENT AND SERUM AUTOANTIBODIES IN SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUSMedicine, 1971
- Synovial fluid findings in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)Arthritis & Rheumatism, 1970
- Aortic insufficiency in systemic lupus erythematosusArthritis & Rheumatism, 1969
- THE LOCALIZATION OF CIRCULATING IMMUNE COMPLEXES IN EXPERIMENTAL SERUM SICKNESSThe Journal of Experimental Medicine, 1968
- THE HEART IN SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUSHeart, 1960
- A COMPARATIVE HISTOLOGIC AND IMMUNOLOGIC STUDY IN RABBITS OF INDUCED HYPERSENSITIVITY OF THE SERUM SICKNESS TYPEThe Journal of Experimental Medicine, 1953