[Soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus].
OBJECTIVE
To study the variations of type II soluble receptors for tumor necrosis factor (sR-TNF) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and investigate their use in the clinical setting.


METHODS
Twenty-six patients with systemic lupus were followed for a mean 3 years. sR-TNF and other immunological parameters (C reactive protein, anti-DNA antibodies, C3 and C4 complement fractions, soluble receptors for interleukin 2) were measured in sera at different points of the disease course. The systemic lupus activity measure (SLAM) was determined at each point, and confronted with the biology results. The study was cross sectional 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, thrombopenia, anemia, creatinine level, anti-DNA antibodies and sR-IL2. The longitudinal study pointed out however that this finding is not consistent for each patient.


CONCLUSIONS
A rise in sR-TNF related to systemic lupus activity but is of limited practical interest for individual patient follow-up.
Weber
J C
JC
Service de Médecine interne et d'Immunologie Clinique, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg.
Korganow
A S
AS
Ginsbourger
M
M
Lehr
L
L
Hauptmann
G
G
Muller
S
S
Pasquali
J L
JL
D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D012995:Solubility; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology*
D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein