Lupus erythematosus cell phenomenon in patients with chronic ulcerative colitis1

Present knowledge of systemic lupus erythematosus, albeit scarce, has been accumulated slowly since its original description to its present recognition as a complex systemic disease responsible for a number of syndromes previously considered unrelated. The true incidence of systemic lupus erythematosus, though still unknown, evidently is much greater than was realized before the discovery of the L.E. cell phenomenon by Hargraves, Richmond, and Morton (1948). From their finding has stemmed also the concept that autoimmune mechanisms operate in systemic lupus erythematosus and probably are responsible for at least some of its clinical and laboratory manifestations. Little also is known of the pathogenesis of chronic ulcerative colitis. Studies on the role of immunity in that condition have been inconclusive (Good and Condie, 1961; Kraft, Bregman, and Kirsner, 1962) but extracolonic manifestations are being recognized with increasing frequency (Sloan, Bargen, and Gage, 1950; Hightower, Broders, Haines, McKenney, and Sommer, 1958). Particularly interesting are the associated arthritis and the hepatic damage. We have found 11 cases of systemic lupus erythematosus associated with chronic ulcerative colitis reported in the literature (Brown, Haserick, and Shirey, 1956a; Gray, Mackay, Taft, Weiden, and Wood, 1958; Bartholomew, Hagedorn, Cain, and Baggenstoss, 1958; Larson, 1961; McEwen, Lingg, Kirsner, and Spencer, 1962). Although the paucity of these reports may indicate that this association is merely coincidental, the systemic manifestations of both diseases and some peculiarities of the cases reported may indicate that the association is of some significance. During the year 1962, 475 patients with chronic