[alpha-Interferon indices in systemic lupus erythematosus and the effect of interferon therapy]

The effect of interferon inducers of viral and nonviral nature as well as of exogenous leukocyte interferon on interferon response of leukocytes (IRL) was studied in patients with different rheumatic diseases, mostly in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Studies in vitro showed that synthetic polyribonucleotide poly(1) X poly(C) induced in SLE patients on the average 3 times as high IRL indices as the viral interferon inducer Newcastle disease virus. A two-week course of treatment of some SLE patients with exogenous leukocyte interferon in various dosages (10(6), 3 X 10(5), and 10(4) units) resulted in a 2--16-fold increase of IRL values in the majority of the patients.