[The level of the tumor necrosis factor in the blood serum of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis].

The contents of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) was measured by enzyme immunoassay in the serum from 43 healthy donors against 49 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In all the donors the cytokine did not reach 50 pg/ml, in SLE and RA running actively TNF alpha levels got elevated in the absence of previous long-term immunocorrection. Under the treatment effect blood levels of the cytokine fell in inhibition of the autoimmune process. Resistant to therapy patients with active rheumatic process kept for a long period on steroids exhibited TNF alpha concentrations less than 50 pg/ml. Low activity of the process and no need in corrective therapy were attended by normal TNF alpha content. The findings urge further efforts in the search for new approaches to SLE and RA treatment.