The level of TNF soluble receptor type 1 in patients with systemic sclerosis

Abstract

Aim. To study content and clinical correlations ofsTNF-RI in patients with systemic sclerosis (SS). Material and methods. Thirty nine SS patients were examined with enzyme immunoassay for serum levels of sTNF-RIand soluble adhesion molecules (sSAM) sVSAM-1, sISAM-1 and sR-selectine using R&D System kits (USA). The control group consisted of 14 healthy subjects (donors). Content of sTNF-RI and sSAM was considered as elevated if it exceeded relevant mean values by 1SD. Results. sTNF-RI content was significantly higher in the patients than in the controls (p = 0.0001) and was similar inpatients with diffuse and limited forms of the disease. A rise in sTNF-RI correlated with a rise in pulmonary artery pressure. In patients with pulmonary hypertension or restrictive pulmonary affection sTNF-RIwas higher than in patients free of pulmonary hypertension or impaired external respiration function. A marked correlation was found between sTNF-RI and sVSAM-1. Patients with high CRP had significantly higher sTNF-RI level than patients with normal CRP. Conclusion. SS is characterized by elevated content ofsTNF-RI. This content may serve a diagnostic marker of the disease progression.

Keywords

• systemic sclerosis
• tnf-ri