Immunopathology of polymorphous light eruption. T lymphocytes in blood and skin.

Polymorphous light eruption (PLE; actinic prurigo) is a relatively common dermatologic disease. People suffering from it have a pruritic skin eruption on exposed areas. PLE may be an immunologically mediated disease. Sixteen patients with PLE were studied. T lymphocytes and the helper and suppressor-cytotoxic subsets were assessed in peripheral blood by an indirect immunofluorescent method with the use of monoclonal antibodies. Total T lymphocytes were significantly increased as compared to controls. By an indirect immunoperoxidase technic with the use of monoclonal antibodies, characterization of the dermal cell infiltrate was done. Predominance of T total, T helper, and cells marked with Ia antigen were found. These findings suggest that an abnormal immune response is responsible for the tissue damage in PLE.