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The association of SLE with tuberculosis (TB) was studied in a group of 388 patients with SLE monitored between 1953-1994. TB was diagnosed in 14 patients (3.6%). The occurrence of septic fevers in SLE patients that did not respond to glucocorticoid therapy indicated the possibility of complication with TB. SLE-associated TB included miliary and far-advanced pulmonary and extrapulmonary forms. Three patients from our group died due to myco-bacterial infection and one patient died of active SLE and TB. The treatment was successful in nine patients. Early diagnosis and appropriate management are mandatory in SLE associated TB, which otherwise may have a potentially fatal outcome.

During a period of 4 years urine samples from 54 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were repeatedly analysed for the activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) and alanine aminopeptidase (AAP). Increased urinary enzyme levels were consistently found in 8 patients with severe lupus nephritis and the nephrotic syndrome, as well as in 9 patients with chronic lupus nephritis resistant to therapy. A further group of 9 patients with lupus nephritis responded favourably to immunosuppressive therapy with arrest of kidney-damaging processes; a concomitant normalization of urinary enzyme levels was observed, giving an accurate reflection of the progression of the disease. Another 14 SLE patients showed raised enzyme levels preceding the development of clinical signs of nephropathy. The last 14 SLE patients displayed neither nephropathy nor altered enzyme activities. The determination of urinary enzyme activities is, therefore, considered to be a useful supplement to the routine biochemical analyses performed on the urine in cases of SLE.

In 15 patients with progressive systemic sclerosis with Raynaud's phenomenon Papaverin hydrochloride retard (Panergon) therapy was used. The average age of 14 females and 1 male was 42 years (26-55). Panergon therapy lasted for 4 weeks, the daily dose being 450 mg. For the evaluation of the treatment, 3 instrumental methods were used: IR radiometry for measuring thermal changes in the hands, capillaroscopy of nailfold, and Doppler-ultrasonic examination for measuring the circulation in finger arteries. An increased temperature, particularly in the fingertips, was found by radiometric examination in 6 patients. We also observed the acceleration of capillary flow speed in 7 patients. The pulse wave in finger arteries was markedly increased in 5 patients. From the subjective point of view the Panergon therapy was judged to be successful in 12 patients. It was not necessary to interrupt the treatment because of unfavourable effects in any case. Panergon therapy seems to be an important step in the treatment of Raynaud's phenomenon in progressive systemic sclerosis.