TNF LEVEL IN THE SERUM FROM SLE AND RA PA TIENTS

The contents of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) was measured by enzyme immunoassay in the serum from 43 healthy donors against 49 pat ients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In all the donors the cytokin did not reach 50 pg/ml, in SLE and RA running actively TNFalpha levels got elevated in the absence of pr evious long-term immunocorrection. Under the treatment effect blood le vels of the cytokin fell in inhibition of the autoimmune process. Resi stant to therapy patients with active rheumatic process kept for a lon g period on steroids exhibited TNFalpha concentrations less than 50 pg /ml. Low activity of the process and no need in corrective therapy wer e attended by normal TNFalpha content. The findings urge further effor ts in the search for new approaches to SLE and RA treatment.