PRE-L. E. CELL: A STAGE IN DEVELOPMENT OF THE L. E. PHENOMENON

THE PURPOSE of this paper is to describe and illustrate a new, bizarre cell which may be one of the stages in the formation of the L. E. cell. Recognition of this cell may help in the establishment of an early diagnosis of disseminated lupus erythematosus.

HISTORICAL SUMMARY

The original report in 1948 by Hargraves and his associates¹ of the finding of a new cell, the L. E. cell, in the bone marrow of patients with acute disseminated lupus erythematosus stimulated a great deal of interest and research into the mechanism of the formation of this cell. An ever-increasing number of studies by many different groups of workers has been constantly appearing in the literature. A summary of the findings to date follows:

1. The L. E. cell and its related cytological abnormality, the L. E. rosette, are specific for the disease acute disseminated lupus erythematosus.² However, a few false-positive tests have been reported.^2b

2. The inclusion body in the