RESUMO
Fas/Apo-1/CD95 is membrane receptor that signal apoptosis to several types of cells. Triggering of Fas by its ligand or certain anti Fas monoclonal antibodies results in apoptosis. Fas occurs in a soluble from sFas devoid of a Trans membrane region. Defective Fas pathway and / or elevated sFas levels have been reported in patients with auto-immune diseases sFas prevents cells from undergoing Fas / ligand induced apoptosis. This study was carried out on thirty patients with SLE diagnosed according to the 1982 revised criteria of the American Collage of Rheumatology [ACR] for diagnosis of SLE. They were attending out patient clinic of Rheumatology and Rehabilitation Department of Benha University Hospitals, Ten healthy individuals age and sex matched were taken as a control group. All patients were subjected to full history taking. complete clinical. laboratory and radiological examination. The level of sFas in serum of SLE patients and the control were determined by ELISA technique. The activity of SLE disease was measured, according to SLE disease activity index [SLEDAI]