[Systemic lupus erythematosus--still current clinical and diagnostic problem]. / Toczen rumieniowaty ukladowy--ciagle aktualny problem kliniczny i diagnostyczny.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a common autoimmune disease of unknown etiology that frequently affects women of childbearing age. SLE is associated with impairments in immune system, which is a consequence of increased production of various autoantibodies. This disease is still a major diagnostic and therapeutic problem. Some hope to explain the complex etiopathogenesis of the disease creates a monitoring function of the immune system. A chance for patients are biologically targeted therapies that affect the critical stages of the disease and autoimmune inflammatory processes.

[Concentration of soluble Fas receptor (sFas) in serum of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction]. / Stezenie rozpuszczalnego receptora Fas (sFas) w surowicy chorych z zawalem serca z uniesieniem odcinka ST.

INTRODUCTION: Impairments ofapoptosis process, called programmed cell death, are the basis of pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease, including myocardial infarction. The aim of our study was to evaluated concentration of soluble receptor Fas (sFas)--marker ofapoptosis--in serum of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 70 patients aged 42 to 75 (mean 58.3 +/- 7.6 years) with the confirmed first episode of the ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. The analyzed material was blood obtained from patients at fourth time: I. the time of admission, II. after 12 hour, III. after 24 hour and IV. on 5th day. The concentrations of the serum sFas was performed with the use of the immunoenzymatic method ELISA using commercial kits Human sAPO-1/Fas ELISA, Bender MedSystems Diagnostics GmbH, Austria. The sensitivity of the kit was 13.2 pg/ml. RESULTS: Concentration of sFas at a time of admission was the highest, among 50.30 and 68.70 pg/ml (mean: 58.73 +/- 5.63 pg/ml). After 12 h, the studied parameter level was significantly lower in comparison with sFas level in admission (p < 0.001), after 24 h (p < 0.0001) and on discharge from hospital (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with myocardial infarction were observed intensify of apoptosis process, which associated with increased concentration of soluble Fas receptor. The measurement of sFas might be useful in monitoring of course myocardial infarction, which need more examinations.