LE cell

LE cell is a type of white blood cell that is a key indicator in the diagnosis of lupus erythematosus, a chronic autoimmune disease. The term "LE" stands for "lupus erythematosus".

History

The LE cell was first discovered in bone marrow samples by Hargraves et al. in 1948. The discovery was significant as it provided a simple test for the diagnosis of lupus, a disease which was previously difficult to diagnose.

Formation

LE cells are formed when the neutrophils or macrophages engulf the nucleus of another cell. The nucleus is often from a damaged or apoptotic cell and is coated with autoantibodies, which are antibodies that mistakenly target and react with a person's own tissues or organs. This process is known as phagocytosis.

Clinical significance

The presence of LE cells in the blood is a hallmark of lupus erythematosus, but they can also be found in other conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren's syndrome, and dermatomyositis. The LE cell test was once a common diagnostic tool for lupus, but it has largely been replaced by more specific tests for autoantibodies, such as the anti-nuclear antibody test.

LE cell test

The LE cell test is a blood test that was used to detect the presence of LE cells. The test involves mixing a sample of the patient's blood with normal human serum. If LE cells are present, they will engulf the nuclei of the normal cells, forming characteristic LE cells.

See also

• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Autoimmune disease
• Phagocytosis