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The specificity of anti-phospholipid auto-antibodies present in the serum of systemic lupus erythematosus patients towards the phospholipids has been studied by two different methods. The antibodies have been characterized either after affinity purification or by inhibition experiments. Our results clearly demonstrate that anti-phospholipid auto-antibodies recognize all phospholipids, whatever their polar head.

A method allowing the covalent binding of fatty acids to a carrier was developed. The absence of absorbed fatty acids was controlled by HPTLC. Rabbits were immunized with these immunogens. The antibodies obtained were studied by ELISA and were shown to be directed against the fatty acyl chain, whatever its length.

Peripheral blood T lymphocytes and T cell subsets were explored in 25 patients with chronic urticaria and 25 healthy controls. Thirteen of the patients had lymphocytic or leukocytoclasic vasculitis. An abnormal distribution between helper and suppressor T cell subsets with decreased percentage of helper (OKT4) T cells was found as compared to controls.