[Anti-elastin antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus]. / Przeciwciala przeciwelastynowe w toczniu rumieniowatym ukladowym.

Immunological response to elastin-derived peptides may cause tissue damage with subsequent degradation of the elastic fibres. Therefore, an incidence of anti-elastin antibodies in sera of patients with the systemic lupus erythematosus was studied. Sixty sera from 50 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and 50 healthy subjects were assayed with dot-immunobinding technique. Titre 1:10 was considered diagnostically significant. Anti-elastin antibodies were diagnosed in 19 patients (31%) where as they were absent in the control group. In all cases anti-elastin antibodies were IgG.

[2 cases of acute disseminated intravascular coagulation in normal pregnancy and as the first symptom of acute promyelocytic leukemia]. / Dwa przypadki ostrego zespolu wykrzepiania wewnatrznaczyniowego w przebiegu prawidlowej ciay oraz jako pierwszy objaw ostrej bialaczki promielocytowej.

Two cases of the acute disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) are presented. DIC in the first case was diagnosed in healthy pregnant woman without any obstetric pathology. This patient recovered completely. The acute DIC in another patient preceded the acute promyelocytic leukemia. The patient died despite a control of DIC. DIC therapy included antifibrinolytic agents and additionally corticoids in pregnant patient. Heparin was not administered because of post partum period and foreseen cytostatic therapy in the leukemic patient.

[Prevention of systemic lupus erythematosus in children born to mothers treated for this disease]. / Profilaktyka tocznia trzewnego u dzieci matek leczonych z powodu tej choroby.

Genetic predisposition and environmental factors (physical, chemical, hormonal and drugs inducing collagen-like syndrome) play an important role in the pathogenesis of the systemic lupus erythematosus. Elimination of these factors from the environment of the genetically predisposed individuals may prevent part of them against the disease. Basing on the above assumption, a chart of prophylaxis has been constructed and distributed among the mothers with the systemic lupus erythematosus, recommending prophylactic measures in both mothers and children. Within 1977-1987, 50 children were examined from time to time. Basic laboratory tests, phenomenon LE, antinuclear antibodies and antibodies anti-DNA have been determined. Transient presence of antinuclear antibodies was seen in 23 children. A tendency to an increase in the antibody titre was observed in girls of this group whereas a decrease in the titre was noted in the boys with the time lapse. Systemic lupus erythematosus prophylaxis in both mothers and children is uncomplicated and favourable for children. Regular determination of antibodies enables early diagnosis of the disease.

Studies on the activity of selected lysosomal exoglycosidases in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

The activity of selected lysosomal hydrolases ( (beta-galactosidase, beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase, beta-xylosidase, alpha-mannosidase, alpha-fucosidase) was determined in the blood serum of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). An increased activity of all the enzymes studied was found as compared to control subjects. Presumable mechanisms of the observed changes are discussed. It is suggested that the studied enzymes may be responsible for the desintegration of the connective tissue ground substance in SLE.

[Many-year course of systemic lupus erythematosus with cerebral symptoms]. / Wieloletni przebieg tocznia trzewnego z objawami mózgowymi.

During 20 years of disease duration in the reported woman aged 47 years at the time of death articular involvement was followed by cardiac involvement and after labour renal signs appeared. Cerebral signs developed about 11 years before her death and manifested themselves as several typical strokes. The observed systemic affections, including the neurological signs, responded favourably to immunosuppression. Postmortem examination of the brain demonstrated numerous ischaemic foci, including a large cerebellar infarction, due to proliferative changes in the walls of cerebral and meningeal vessels.

[High titre of antibodies to ds-DNA in a case of visceral lupus erythematosus with remission during many years]. / Wysokie miano przeciwcial przeciw ds-DNA w przypadku calkowitej wieloleniej remisji tocznia trzewnego.

In a 21-year-old female patient with lupus erythematosus exacerbation of the disease developed during pregnancy leading to eclampsia and birth of a stillborn fetus. After 10 years of immunosupressive treatment the patient continuing treatment with prednisone had another sucessful pregnancy with birth of a healthy child. Serious organ changes observed in the first years of the disease regressed completelt during 12 years of immunosupressive treatment. Throughout the whole observation period antinuclear antibodies were found in the serum, and in the last year their titre of antobodies to native DNA was high. The necessity of many years of immunosupressive treatment of patients with visceral lupus erythematosus is stressed.