Soluble Fas antigen (sFAS) in the serum from patients with adrenal tumors

Serum content of soluble Fas antigen was measured by enzyme immunoassay in 60 healthy donors, 31 patients with adrenal tumors, and 16 patients with diffuse-and-nodular hyperplasia of the adrenal cortex accompanying primary aldosteronism and Cushing's disease. sFas was more often detected in the serum from patients with tumors of the adrenal cortex and medulla and diffuse-and-nodular hyperplasia of the adrenal cortex and its content varied in a wider range in patients compared to healthy donors. No correlations were found between the incidence of sFas, its content, sex, and age of healthy donors and patients. The highest content of sFas was found in patients with pheochromocytoma and primary aldosteronism. sFas probably plays a role in the pathogenesis of adrenal tumors and hyperplasia.