[The content of interleukin-1 beta in the blood serum of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis].

The enzyme immunoassay determined serum levels of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) in 35 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 18 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. In high activity of both SLE and RA as well as in the presence of fever, anemia, marked skin vasculitis IL-1 beta rose high, still higher levels being reported in patients with erosive joints compared to those in RA patients with initial stage of RA. Lower IL-1 beta content often marked nephropathy in both the diseases. Corticosteroids and cytostatics resulted in IL-1 beta fall which was also established in 9 SLE and 3 RA patients in parallel with inhibition of the process activity.