Estimation of SLE activity based on the serum level of chosen cytokines and superoxide radical generation

WE estimated the serum levels of IL-6, TNF-alpha and IL-10, and generation of superoxide radicals, as well as their mutual dependence, in 63 SLE patie nts at various stages of disease activity. Our results indicate a statistic ally significant increase of the serum levels studied, and an increase of s uperoxide anion generation by granulocytes, in correlation with SLE activit y. These results indicate that oxygen metabolism and the examined cytokines play an important role in pathogenesis of SLE. The assessment of these par ameters can be useful in the estimation of disease activity.