Correlation of serum interferon with some clinical and humoral signs of systemic lupus erythematosus.

The serum level of total interferon (IFN) was measured in 15 male patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in the active phase and in remission, before and during corticotherapy. The values found were correlated with the clinical and humoral signs of disease. The IFN titer was high in the active phase of disease and was correlated with fever, extension of skin rash, polyarthritis, myositis, autoimmune hemolysis, cardiac and cerebral involvement as well as with ESR, reacting protein C, CIC, ANF and the percentage of LE cells. Isolated LE nephropathy without rapidly progressive or advanced renal failure was not associated with high IFN titer.