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Aim: To evaluate clinical significance of heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)., Material and Methods: HRV was investigated by means of time-domain analysis of 24 hour ambulatory ECG of 122 SLE patients under 55 years of age and 32 age-matched healthy controls. In addition to clinical manifestations and activity of SLE, we assessed the presence of basic conventional cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, smoking, body mass index, dyslipidemia), performed common carotid duplex scanning with measurement of intima-medial thickness (IMT). Inflammatory markers (ESR, CRP, IL-6) were assessed in all the patients., Results: Significantly lower HRV and the trend to tachycardia were detected in SLE patients when compared to the control group. There was a significant positive correlation between HRV and a cumulative dose of cyclophosphamide, a high density lipoprotein cholesterol level, a negative correlation between HRV and cumulative dose of azathioprine, standard risk factors (hypertension, smoking, body mass index, triglyceride level), markers of inflammation (ESR, CRP, IL-6) and IMT., Conclusion: Measurement of HRV in combination with routine cardiovascular risk factors and level of inflammatory markers can be used for identification of subjects at risk for faster progression of atherosclerosis in SLE patients.

The paper deals with problems of rehabilitation of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthrosis and systemic lupus erythematosus. These problems are rather topical in view of high prevalence of rheumatic diseases, their severe course and a high rate of invalidization at the most productive age. Relevant multifactorial therapeutic measures should be staged, aimed at lowering and stabilization of the disease activity. The role of updated medication, joint surgery, diet therapy, etc. is shown.

Presented are findings of comparative studies of the clinico-immunological parameters and the microcirculatory bed status in 17 DM I probands and 37 of their family members and in 17 SLE probands with 54 of their relatives. The DM I families were found to have DM and prediabetic cases, while among the SLE probands' families rheumatic and, less frequently, cardiovascular diseases prevailed. In the DM I probands' families, a significantly greater number of relatives were found to have rheumatoid factor, high IgG level, anti-DNA antibodies, and CIC (as compared to the SLE series). Both DM I and SLE groups demonstrated reduced efficacy of the cutaneous circulation as compared to norm; in the DM I relatives this disorder was more pronounced than in SLE relatives. The degree to which circulatory changes were pronounced was related to immunological disorders.

ELISA quantitation of antibodies to Klebsiella pneumonia, Proteus mirabilis, and Yersinia enterocolitica was conducted in 75 ankylosing spondylitis (AS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) probands and in 262 of their first-degree relatives. The control group comprised 28 healthy donors. Sixteen (64 per cent) AS probands (12 with B27+) and 26 (30.2 per cent) their relatives (14 with B27+) were found to have high titres of antibodies to Klebsiella pneumonia. In 18 (60 per cent) active RA probands and 27 (23.7 per cent) relatives, antibodies to Proteus mirabilis were found. The obtained results suggest the presence of genetic determinants of the increased immune response to various infectious agents, at least in the AS cases. The possibility of Enterobacteriaceae acting as polyclonal stimulators is not excluded.