2. The lupus erythermatosus (LE) cell:
Is a mature neutrophilic polymorphonuclear
leukocyte, which has phagocytized a spherical,
homogeneous-appearing inclusion, itself
derived from nuclear material of degenerating
leukocytes and coated with antinuclear
antibody; a characterisitic of lupus
erythematosus
3.
4. LE cell seen in…..
• Systemic lupus erythematosis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Discoid lupus erythematosis
5. Methods of demonstration of LE cell
• Clotted blood
• Defibrinated blood
• Citrated or heparinized blood
• Rotary method
6. Clotted blood
• Simplest method
• 10 ml of clotted blood is placed in water bath at 32o
C for 1 to 2hrs.
• Mash the clot with fine wire
• The cells expressed from the clot are placed in a
Wintrobe haematocrit tube and centrifuged at high
speed (2,000 r.p.m.) for 5 minutes.
• The buffy coat is then ,carefully removed with a fine
glass pipette and smeared on glass slides.
• Any of the stains for routine blood films are
satisfactory.
7. Defibrinated blood
• The blood is collected in a flexible container (conical
flask) of appropriate size into which is placed a
sufficient quantity of glass beads.
• Blood is added to it.
• It is rotated in 8 shape for 15min.
• Incubated for 2hrs at 370
• Smears are made after centrifugation same as
clotted blood
• Stain with wright stain.
8. Rotary method
• 5 glass beads 3mm in diameter are added to a
heparinised sample of blood.
• Tube is then roated at 50rpm for 30 min at 37o
• Buffy coat smears are prepared.
9. • LE cell are seen at the edge of a smear.
• 500 polymorhs are counted before a negative result
is given.
• Rosette – group of polymorhs will collect around
altered nuclear material.
