Antibody Titers in Lupus Erythematosus

Excerpt

To the editor: Dr. Ziff's otherwise excellent review of "Viruses and Connective Tissue Diseases" in the December issue errs in one respect. Our study (1) did in fact confirm our earlier finding (2) that measles and parainfluenza type 1 antibodies are increased in systemic lupus erythematosus. This was in comparison to all other groups tested except the Reiter's syndrome and, for parainfluenza only, the miscellaneous nonconnective tissue diseases. After finding a significant positive correlation between these virus antibody titers and the serum gamma globulin level, we then postulated, as Dr. Ziff stated, that the proximate cause of the elevated titers