LACK OF CORRELATION BETWEEN SERUM-SOLUBLE FAS APO-1 LEVELS AND AUTOIMMUNE-DISEASE/

Objective. To determine whether elevated soluble Fas/APO-1 (sFas/APO-1 ) levels are associated with either autoimmune disease or evidence of flares in autoimmune disease. Methods. Thirty-seven serum samples were retrospectively obtained from normal controls and patients with labor atory evidence of autoimmune disease activity. These samples were assa yed for sFas/APO-1 levels by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and hospital medical records were retrospectively reviewed for clinical a nd laboratory characteristics of the patients. Results. Soluble Fas/AP O-1 levels did not correlate with clinical diagnoses or laboratory abn ormalities, The mean and range of sFas/APO-1 levels were similar in sy stemic lupus erythematosus patients (including those with active disea se), patients with other autoimmune diseases, and normal controls. Con clusion. These data strongly suggest that measurement of sFas/APO-1 le vels is unlikely to hold clinical value or play a role in the pathogen esis of autoimmune disease.