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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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 The LE cell test was once a common diagnostic tool for lupus, but it has largely been replaced by more specific tests for autoantibodies, such as the anti-nuclear antibody test.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[edit | edit source]

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.