Soluble TNF alpha receptors in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

OBJECTIVE: To study the variations of type II soluble receptors for tumor n ecrosis factor (sR-TNF) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and i nvestigate their use in the clinical setting. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-six patients with systemic lupus were followed for a mean 3 year;, sR-TNF and other immunological parameters (C reactive protein, anti-DNA antibodies, C3 and C4 complement fractions, soluble recep tors for interleukin 2) were measured in sera at different points of the di sease course. The systemic lupus activity measure (SLAM) was determined at each point and confronted with the biology results. The study was cross sec tional for the group and longitudinal for the patients. RESULTS: sR-TNF was the immunological parameter which correlated best with SLAM. It also correlated with sedimentation rate, C reactive protein, throm bopenia, anemia, creatinine level, anti-DNA antibodies and sR-IL2. The long itudinal study pointed out however that this finding is not consistent for each patient. CONCLUSION: A rise in sR-TNF related to systemic lupus activity bur is of l imited practical interest for individual patient follow-up.