Serum concentration of interleukin 15, interleukin 2 receptor and TNF receptor in patients with polymyositis and dermatomyositis: correlation to disease activity.

Cytokines are implied in polymyositis/dermatomyositis (PM/DM) pathogenesis. Our aim was to evaluate the serum levels of interleukin-15 (IL-15), soluble receptors for IL-2 (sIL-2R) and TNF-alpha type 1 receptor (sTNF-R1) in PM/DM patients and their relation to disease activity and clinical symptoms. Thirty-eight patients who met definite or probable criteria of Bohan and Peter for DM/PM were included into the study.

Clinical manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus in patients with antiribosomal P protein antibodies.

Introduction: Antibodies against ribosomal P protein (anti-P) are detected predominantly in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, the data on their frequency and clinical relevance remain inconclusive.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the frequency as well as clinical and serological relevance of anti-P autoantibodies in Polish patients with SLE and to determine the significance of these antibodies in the diagnosis of SLE.

Anti-influenza vaccination in systemic lupus erythematosus patients: an analysis of specific humoral response and vaccination safety.

The objective of this study is to evaluate efficacy and safety of influenza vaccine in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. We studied SLE patients and healthy subjects immunised with inactivated influenza vaccine. Efficacy was measured by comparing humoral response to vaccine antigens between groups.

Glucocorticoid receptor beta splice variant expression in patients with high and low activity of systemic lupus erythematosus.

The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) occurs mainly in two alternative splice variants encoding GRalpha and GRbeta. The GRbeta variant does not contain a GC binding domain and cannot mediate anti-inflammatory GC effects. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from venous whole blood of twelve patients with SLE.

[Evaluation of systemic lupus erythematosus activity during pregnancy].

Pregnancy in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is considered a high-risk pregnancy. It is complicated by preeclampsia, premature labour and miscarriage more frequently than in the general population. Improved prognosis depends on low disease activity during conception and on appropriate medical care (SLE activity monitoring, selection of therapy safe for the mother and the developing foetus, advances in neonatology).

Prevalence of ZAP-70, LAT, SLP-76, and DNA methyltransferase 1 expression in CD4+ T cells of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

T cells from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients exhibit defective function of CD4(+) T cells that can be responsible for improper activation of B cells and antibody biosynthesis against host antigens. We compared the level of ZAP-70, LAT, and SLP-76, transcripts and proteins in CD4(+) T cells from SLE patients (n = 22) and healthy individuals (n = 15). We also determined DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) protein content in CD4(+) T cells of SLE patients.

[Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) primary (PAPS) and secondary (SAPS)].

Background: During the last decade, a wide variety of clinical manifestations and serological disturbances have been described associated to APS. However the real prevalence of most clinical manifestations with several autoantibody-cofactor systems still needs precise epidemiological and clinical long-term study.

Objective: Evaluation of frequency clinical and serological symptoms of SLE and APS in PAPS and SAPS pts.

[Biological therapies of systemic lupus erythematosus].

In recent years new potential therapies of systemic lupus erythematosus, called biological therapies, have been developed. These agents influence some immunological reactions, essential for genesis of systemic lupus erythematosus, ie. T cells and B cells activation, antibodies production, cytokines and complement components activation.

Clinical features and prognosis of patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies and anti-Jo-1 antibodies.

The idiopathic inflammatory myopathies are a heterogeneous group of diseases that can involve various systems. Antibodies directed against aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, such as anti-Jo-1 antibodies, are strongly associated with a syndrome which consists of myositis, interstitial lung disease (ILD), arthritis and Raynaud's phenomenon. Forty-one patients with various forms of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies were assessed: 14 patients with anti-Jo-1 antibodies and 27 patients without anti-Jo-1 antibodies as a control group.

Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma (MALT) of salivary glands and scleroderma: a case report.

The connection between scleroderma and lymphoma is uncommon and its pathogenic relationship is a much debated subject. We describe the case of a patient with mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma (MALT) of both parotid glands without clinical signs of Sjögren's syndrome who simultaneously developed scleroderma. Independently of the pathogenic mechanism of these two diseases, it seems very important to emphasize that scleroderma may be the first manifestation of lymphoma.

Histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis of lymphoid follicles in labial salivary glands in primary and secondary Sjögren's syndrome.

Background: Ectopic lymphoid follicles are considered morphological indices of local chronic antigen stimulation. The objective of this study was to present a detailed histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis of ectopic lymphoid follicles in salivary glands in Sjögren's syndrome (SS), compared to lymphoid follicles in lymph nodes.

Material/methods: Samples of labial salivary glands from 37 patients with primary and 57 with secondary SS were examined by histopathology and immunohistochemical methods with monoclonal antibodies (DAKO) to identify follicular dendritic cells, T and B lymphocytes, immunoglobulins and class II MHC HIA DPQR.

Morbidity and mortality in systemic lupus erythematosus during a 10-year period: a comparison of early and late manifestations in a cohort of 1,000 patients.

In the present study, we assessed the frequency and characteristics of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) during a 10-year period and compared the frequency of early manifestations with those that appeared later in the evolution of the disease. In 1990, we started a multicenter study of 1,000 patients from 7 European countries. All had medical histories documented and underwent medical interview and routine general physical examination when entered in the study, and all were followed prospectively by the same physicians during the ensuing 10 years (1990-2000).

[Rheumatic syndromes during the course of HCV infection].

The aim of the study was to evaluate clinical features and serological abnormalities in patients(pts) with rheumatological symptoms in the course of HCV infection (5 pts) and interferon-alpha treatment (2 pts). The diagnosis of hepatitis C was based on positive history on jaundice and risk factors of HCV infection, abnormal liver laboratory tests, the presence of anti-HCV and HCV-RNA and on results of liver biopsy. Among the patients with rheumatological features in the course of HCV infection seropositive arthritis in 4 pts, leucocytoclastic vasculitis, clinical and serological manifestations of mixed cryoglobulinemia-in 3 pts were observed.