Clinical and immunologic parameters during thalidomide treatment of lupus erythematosus.

Background: Thalidomide is used as an experimental drug for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases with an autoimmune or infectious background. The pharmacologic action involves the downregulation of the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and inhibition of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-induced angiogenesis; however, not much is known about thalidomide's effect on immunologic parameters in lupus erythematosus (LE). Method This is an open study of a group of five consecutive systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients treated with thalidomide (100 mg/day) and five consecutive cutaneous LE patients not responsive to conventional therapy.

Lupus erythematosus tumidus and chronic discoid lupus erythematosus in carriers of X-linked chronic granulomatous disease.

Two Caucasian carriers for chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) developed cutaneous lupus erythematosus (LE) with clinically and morphologically characteristic appearance for chronic discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) and lupus erythematosus tumidus (LET). Direct immunofluorescent examinations and ANA titers were positive in both young women. No systemic involvement due to the ACR criteria was evident.

Transcriptional activation of endogenous retroviral sequences in human epidermal keratinocytes by UVB irradiation.

Ultraviolet radiation is a pathogenic factor in various diseases, e. g., autoimmune disorders such as lupus erythematosus.

[Bath-PUVA therapy of granuloma annulare].

Sixteen patients with generalized granuloma anulare and two patients with localized granuloma anulare received bath-PUVA therapy. Their lesions previously had not responded to conventional therapy. After an average of 55 (11 to 61) treatments and a mean cumulative dose of 69.

Evidence for suppressed activity of the transcription factor NFAT1 at its proximal binding element P0 in the IL-4 promoter associated with enhanced IL-4 gene transcription in T cells of atopic patients.

Allergen-specific T cells in atopic patients are polarized IL-4-producing Th2 cells, promoting IgE synthesis by B cells. The molecular basis for increased IL-4 gene expression in atopy is not fully understood. IL-4 gene regulation in general involves the nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) family of transcription factors, of which NFAT1 and NFAT2 are most prominent in peripheral T cells.

[MRI of fingers in systemic scleroderma. Initial results with contrast-enhanced studies using a dedicated MRI system].

Purpose: To estimate disease activity in patients with systemic sclerosis using contrast-enhanced MRI of the skin.

Material And Methods: In a pre-study, sequences of a low-field (0.2 T) scanner (Artoscan, Esaote, Genova, Italy) were optimized for detection of intravenous contrast (0.

Elevation of CD8+ CD11b+ Leu-8- T cells is associated with the humoral immunodeficiency in myeloma patients.

Recurrent bacterial infections due to humoral immunodeficiency are an important cause of death in myeloma patients. Recent data indicate that CD8+ T lymphocytes and a reduction of T helper type 1 cells with disease progression may be involved in the regulation of polyclonal immunoglobulin secretion. In mixed lymphocyte cultures derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of 24 myeloma patients with reduced immunoglobulin serum levels we investigated the association of CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets and immunoglobulin-secreting B cells (ISC) upon mitogenic stimulation with pokeweed mitogen (PWM) and concanavalin A (Con A).

Endogenous retroviral sequences in the pathogenesis of systemic autoimmune disease.

Objectives: To update information on endogenous retroviral sequences and discuss their role in systemic autoimmune disease.

Data Sources: Articles retrieved after MEDLINE search and personal communications and cooperation with the Institute of Virology.

Data Synthesis: There are 2 modes of pathogenetic mechanisms through which endogenous retroviral sequences could cause systemic autoimmune disease: expression of endogenous retroviral gene products sharing antigenic determinants with cellular proteins; and activation or destruction of cellular genes as a consequence of insertional mutagenesis.

Phototesting and photoprotection in LE.

Photosensitivity and induction of skin lesions following UV radiation is a common problem of patients with cutaneous and systemic forms of lupus erythematosus. The detrimental effect of UV radiation to patients with lupus erythematosus was already recognized in the last century. Skin lesions can now be provoked under standardized conditions allowing the diagnosis and classification of patients with photosensitive disorders.

[Endogenous retroviral sequences as a factor in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus].

Endogenous retroviral sequences (ERV) are integrated parts of the human genome. They make up at least 1% of the total genomic DNA. This pool of genetic material might help explain the long discussed role of retroviruses in autoimmune disease.

[Skin ulcers in rheumatoid arthritis].

The appearance of severe ulceration of the skin in patients with rheumatoid arthritis is often associated with a tendency to progression of the underlying disease, involvement of internal organs and increased mortality. In the pathogenesis of such ulceration there are multiple causes for their development, persistence and tendency to poor healing. They include localized or generalized immune complex vasculitis, treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs and their side effects following the treatment, arterial and venous insufficiency, and mechanical factors.