NEUTROPHILS RESEMBLING L. E. CELLS IN ARTIFICIAL BLISTERS

Abstract

THIS IS a report of studies of the cellular elements in the fluid obtained from artificial blisters produced on the skin of patients with acute disseminated lupus erythematosus. From the reports of others¹ it would seem that L. E. cells may be formed in a patient with acute disseminated lupus erythematosus whenever plasma from such patients and neutrophilic leukocytes are placed together under favorable conditions. Unaltered plasma may not be obtained in blister fluid because the dermis may filter out some of its components. However, most of the blister fluid is filtered plasma. As neutrophilic leukocytes are present in blister fluid, it was thought that L. E. cells might also be present in blister fluid from patients with acute disseminated lupus erythematosus. As natural blisters are formed only rarely in disseminated lupus erythematosus, artificial blisters were produced with cantharides on patients wih lupus erythematosus, as well as on those