[Clinical value of soluble tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptors in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus]. / Klinicheskoe znachenie rastvorimykh retseptorov faktora nekroza opukholi al'fa u bol'nykh sistemnoi krasnoi volchankoi.

The study was undertaken to examine the clinical value of serum levels of soluble receptors of tumor necrosis factor-alpha with a molecular mass of 55 kDa (rTNF-alpha-55R) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The serum level of rTNF-alpha-55R was measured by enzyme immunoassay (a "Quantikine" set, R&D System, USA) in 73 patients with SLE and 22 donors. In the patients, the mean level of rTNF-alpha-55R was significantly higher than that in donors. Higher serum levels of rTNF-alpha-55R were noted in 43.8% of the patients with SLE. There was a correlation between the level of rTNF-alpha-55R and the progression of SLE (p < 0.05), the exacerbation (p < 0.05), and the clinical manifestations of the disease (cardiac valvular apparatus damage, active lupus nephritis). rTNF-alpha-55R are a marker of the progression and exacerbation of SLE and reflects that there is a prognostically poor factor, i.e. the involvement of the kidneys in a pathological process.

[Level of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor type I in patients with systemic scleroderma]. / Uroven' rastvorimogo retseptora I tipa faktora nekroza opukholi u bol'nykh sistemnoi sklerodermiei.

AIM: To study content and clinical correlations of sTNF-RI in patients with systemic sclerosis (SS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty nine SS patients were examined with enzyme immunoassay for serum levels of sTNF-RI and soluble adhesion molecules (sSAM) sVSAM-1, sISAM-1 and sR-selectine using R&D System kits (USA). The control group consisted of 14 healthy subjects (donors). Content of sTNF-RI and sSAM was considered as elevated if it exceeded relevant mean values by 1SD. RESULTS: sTNF-RI content was significantly higher in the patients than in the controls (p = 0.0001) and was similar in patients with diffuse and limited forms of the disease. A rise in sTNF-RI correlated with a rise in pulmonary artery pressure. In patients with pulmonary hypertension or restrictive pulmonary affection sTNF-RI was higher than in patients free of pulmonary hypertension or impaired external respiration function. A marked correlation was found between sTNF-RI and sVSAM-1. Patients with high CRP had significantly higher sTNF-RI level than patients with normal CRP. CONCLUSION: SS is characterized by elevated content of sTNF-RI. This content may serve a diagnostic marker of the disease progression.

[Clinical value of soluble adhesion molecules in systemic scleroderma]. / Klinicheskoe znachenie rastvorimykh molekul adgezii pri sistemnoi sklerodermii.

The aim of the trial was to study clinical significance of estimation of cell adhesion soluble molecules (CASM) in scleroderma systematica (SS). Quantitation of CASM VCAM-1, ICAM-1 and R-selectin was made with enzyme-immunoassay (R&D System kits, USA) in 38 patients with SS (11 with limited SS and 27 with diffuse SS). The levels of VCAM-1, ICAM-1 and R-selectin was elevated in 30 (79%), 17 (45%) and 20 (53%) patients, respectively. Mean values of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 in patients were significantly higher than in healthy donors. R-selectin was also higher but insignificantly. A mean CASM level and a relative number of patients with elevated count of CASM in patients with diffuse and limited forms of SS did not differ. In 15 patients with active (progressive) course of the disease the level of VCAM-1 was significantly higher than in patients with chronic (non-progressive) course of SS while concentrations of ICAM-1 and R-selectine were almost the same. Thus, SS patients have elevated levels of CASM. CASM VCAM-1 concentration is the most sensitive marker of SS activity compared to other CASM.

[Soluble receptors of TNF-alpha with molecular mass 55 kDa in rheumatoid arthritis: clinical role]. / Rastvorimye retseptory FNOalfa s molekuliarnoi massoi 55 kDa pri revmatoidnom artrite: klinicheskoe znachenie.

UNLABELLED: To evaluate clinical implications of the serum level of soluable receptors of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFa) with molecular mass 55 kDa (rTNF-55R) in rheumatoid arthritis, serum levels of rTNF-55R and rTNF-75R were measured with the use of radioimmunoassay in 76 RA patients, 38 donors and in 25 RA patients, 10 donors, respectively. RESULTS: Elevated serum level of rTNF-55R was recorded in 55.3% RA patients. This level correlated with basic clinical and laboratory parameters of RA, the disease activity, values of DAS indices. It is concluded that a serum level of rTNF-55R adequately reflects clinico-laboratory activity of RA and its measurement can be used for assessment of RA activity and treatment efficiency.

[Soluble vascular adhesion-1 molecule in Sneddon syndrome: clinical and prognostic value]. / Rastvorimaia sosudistaia molekula adgezii-1 pri sindrome Sneddona: klinicheskoe i prognosticheskoe znachenie.

Clinical significance of a soluble vascular adhesion-1 molecule (pVCAM-1) in Sneddon's syndrome (SS) was studied in 48 SS patients by examination of serum pVCAM-1 level using enzyme immunoassay (R&D, USA). High serum concentration of pVCAM-1 registered in 62.6% of SS patients was associated with extracerebral thromboses, not with severity of cerebral vessel damage. Lethal outcomes for 2 years of follow-up occurred more frequently in patients with a high basal level of pVCAM-1 than in patients with normal level. Thus, development of the pathological process in SS is associated with elevated concentration of serum pVCAM-1 and may serve an additional laboratory indicator of developing extrabrain thrombotic disorders and marker of unfavourable prognosis.

[Soluble adhesion molecules in antiphospholipid syndrome associated with systemic lupus erythematosus and in primary antiphospholipid syndrome]. / Rastvorimye molekuly adgezii pri antifosfolipidnom sindrome, sviazannom s sisemnoi krasnoi volchankoi, i pervichnom antifosfolipidnom sindrome.

AIM: To evaluate clinical implications of measurements of the level of soluble cell molecules of adhesion (sCMA) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and primary APS (PAPS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Serum levels of sP-selectine, sE-selectine, sVCAM-1 were determined with enzyme immunoassay (R&D, USA) in 23 SLE with APS, 15 SLE patients free of APS and 19 patients with PAPS. RESULTS: Mean levels of sE-selectine and sVCAM-1 in SLE patients with APS, PAPS and SLE was higher than in donors. Elevated mean levels of sP-selectine were observed only in SLE patients free of APS. These patients also showed a correlation between sVCAM-1 level and the disease activity (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The development of immunopathological process in APS is associated with increased concentration of sCMA.

[Soluble receptors of TNF-alpha in rheumatoid arthritis]. / Rastvorimye retseptory faktora nekroza opukholi pri revmatoidnom artrite.

The serum level of soluble TNF-alpha receptors with molecular mass 55 kDa (sTNF-a55R) was measured by enzyme immunoassay with commercial kits in 30 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 38 healthy donors. High sTNF-a55R serum levels were registered in 90% of RA patients. These levels correlated with RA activity by DAS. Thus, assay for sTNF-a55R can be used for assessing RA activity.

[Neopterin: new immunological marker of autoimmune rheumatic disease]. / Neopterin: novyi immunologicheskii marker autoimmunnykh revmaticheskikh zabolevanii.

Serum neopterin (SN), concentration of soluble (s) TNF-receptors (R) with molecular mass 55 kD and sIL-2R, C-reactive protein (CRP), Willebrand factor antigen (WF Ag) were measured in enzyme immunoassay (EIA) or radioimmunoassay (BRAHMS, Berlin, Germany) in 189 patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases: 52 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 67 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 44 patients with polymyositis/dermatomyositis and 26 patients with Wegener granulomatosis. SN appeared elevated in autoimmune rheumatic diseases correlating with the disease activity and concentrations of sTNF R and sIL 2R. Assay for neopterin is clinically essential for examination of the immunopathological process activity, prediction of the outcomes, better knowledge about cytokine synthesis profile in autoimmune rheumatic diseases.

[Soluble adhesion molecules (P-selectin, ICAM-1 and ICAM-3) in rheumatoid arthritis]. / Rastvorimye molekuly adgezii (P-selektin, ICAM-1 i ICAM-3) pri revmatoidnom artrite.

AIM: Investigation of serum levels and clinical role of soluble intercellular molecules of adhesion (pICAM-1, PICAM-3 and pP-selectin) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Enzyme immunoassay with Bender MedSystem kits (Austria) was employed to measure serum concentration of soluble intercellular molecules of adhesion in 36 RA patients. RESULTS: Elevated levels of serum pICAM-1, pICAM-3 and pP-selectin were registered in 74.2, 28.6 and 25.7% of RA patients, respectively. Content of pP-selectin more strongly correlated with activity and severity indices than that of pICAM-3 (p < 0.001). Content of pICAM-1 and clinical picture of RA were unrelated. CONCLUSION: Levels of pP-selectine can characterize RA activity.

[Neopterin: laboratory marker of cellular immunity activation in rheumatoid arthritis]. / Neopterin: laboratornyi marker aktivatsii kletochogo immuniteta pri revmatoidnom artrite.

AIM: Measurement of neopterin in the serum of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: 59 patients with verified RA diagnosis (22 cases of joint lesion stage I-IIa, 27 of stage IIb-IIIa, 10 of stage IIIb-IV established roentgenologically, 48 patients were seropositive by IgM-rheumatoid factor) were examined for concentrations of serum neopterin and C-reactive protein (CRP). The activity and prognostic factors were characterized by modified Wilke method, the severity index was calculated. 100 healthy donors served controls. RESULTS: Immune inflammation in RA develops with growing neopterin concentration in the serum. This concentration well correlates with inflammation activity and intensification of systemic symptoms. CONCLUSION: Neopterin measurements may be important for determination of inflammation activity in RA. Further efforts should be made to ascertain relationships between neopterin hyperproduction and disturbances of cellular immunity in RA, clinical value of neopterin assays compared to the other laboratory evidence, feasibility of using neopterin levels to define prognosis and efficacy of on-going therapy.

[Serum neopterin in Behçet's disease]. / Syvorotchnyi neopterin pri bolezni Bekhcheta.

Neopterin radioimmunoassay measurements (Henning, Berlin) were conducted in 26 male and 12 female patients (mean age 32 +/- 8.01) with Behcet's disease (BD) and healthy controls. In BD patients mean serum neopterin concentrations were significantly higher than in the controls (8.7 +/- 4.1 nmol/l against 5.0 +/- 1.9 nmol/l, respectively). Neopterin levels were higher in patients with positive pathergy test than in negative subjects (p<0.05). There was a significant correlation between neopterin and CRP (rs=0.42. p<0.02). The findings indicate that cellular immunity in BD patients is activated.

[Serum neopterin, bacteremia and viral antibodies in dilated cardiomyopathy]. / Syvorotochnyni neopterin, bakteriemiia i virusnye antitela pri dilatatsionnoi kardiomiopatii.

Quantitation of neopterin and morphological examination of bacteria circulating in the blood of 28 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy gave evidence for elevated neopterin concentrations in 22 of the examinees (> 10 nM/l). The highest neopterin levels occurred in patients with L-form bacteria. Concentrations of neopterin and antibodies to cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex were related. The above antibodies were associated with high neopterin levels in the serum. It is suggested that high amounts of serum neopterin may result from combination of viral and bacterial infection in dilated cardiomyopathy sufferers.

[Phospholipid antibodies in primary pulmonary hypertension]. / Antitela k fosfolipidam pri pervichnoi legochnoi gipertonii.

Cardiolipin antibodies (CAb) were measured in 14 patients with primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH). These included 9 females and 5 males (mean age 36.8 +/- 9.6 years) with duration of PPH 4.9 +/- 4.1 years. No rise in CAb IgG was noted, whereas CAb IgM arose to 13.0-42.5 MPI in 3 patients. 2 lethal outcomes were registered in the group of patients with normal CAb levels and 2 in the group with elevated CAb (20% against 66.7%, respectively). The deaths were caused by progressive circulatory failure and venous occlusion, pulmonary artery embolism, respectively. It is suggested that IgM CAb increase may indicate involvement of immune disorders in PPH onset and the same nature of the mechanisms underlying some PPH subtypes and autoimmune rheumatic affections.

[Antibodies to pathogens of Lyme's disease in patients with myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy]. / Antitela k vozbuditeliu bolezni Laima u bolnykh miokarditom i dilatatsionnoi kardiomiopatiei.

The paper presents the information on the involvement of the cardiovascular system in the patients with Lyme's disease as well as the results of serological investigation in patients with myocarditis and dilatation cardiomyopathy for the presence of antibodies to the causative agent of Lyme's disease with the aid of enzyme immunoassay. Out of 71 sera 3 specimens had the values of optical density higher than the upper normal limits. Based on the investigation conducted and the analysis of the clinical picture, the authors suspected a Borrelia origin of these cardiac involvements. However, to verify the diagnosis morphological examination of endomyocardiac biopsy specimens was found to be mandatory.

[Serum neopterin in hepatitis B]. / Syvorotochnyi neopterin pri virusnom geptite B.

Activation of the immunity system commonly followed the development of viral diseases. Neopterin is evidently a marker of the activation. Elevation of neopterin levels in AIDS and tumor patients correlates with the severity of the disease. Radioimmunoassay of neopterin content was performed in the sera of 11 patients with virus B hepatitis (6 patients with its acute pattern, 3 with its acute pattern concurrent with delta-infection and 2 subjects with chronic active virus B hepatitis). Mean neopterin content in the sera of virus B hepatitis patients was 19.9 +/- 5.7 nM/l being significantly higher than that in donors (5.0 +/- 0.8 nM/l) (p less than 0.001). In this line neopterin levels higher than 9 nM/l (the upper normal limits) were identified in 63% of the patients. Mean content of beta-2-microglobulin in hepatitis patients was 3.3 +/- 0.53 mg/l being significantly different from that in donors (1.8 +/- 0.3 mg/l) (p less than 0.05). Association between higher neopterin levels and the severity of the disease was fully proved clinically, with the exception of the two expired persons whose neopterin levels were within normal limits. The data obtained evidenced an increase in neopterin levels associated with virus B hepatitis. It widened the understanding of the disease pathogenesis and permitted the determination of neopterin levels be used in correlation with clinical data as a prognostic value for the course of the disease.