Glomerular and Dermal Deposition of Properdin in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Abstract

Properdin was demonstrated by indirect immunofluorescence in glomeruli of six of seven patients with lupus nephritis, two of whom had membranous lupus nephritis, one focal proliferative lupus nephritis, and three of four diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis. Properdin was not present in a kidney from a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus but no clinical or pathological evidence of renal disease or in seven of eight patients with other renal diseases. Properdin was demonstrable in the dermal-epidermal junction of the erythematous rash in one of two patients with systemic lupus. Immunoglobulins and complement components (C3, C4) were also present in tissues studied.