Utility of peripheral blood monocyte subsets, circulating immune complexes and serum cytokines in assessment of SLE activity: an observational, cross-sectional study.

Peripheral blood monocytes are depleted in active disease. The intermediate monocyte subset may have a role in disease activity. TNF-alpha correlated modestly with disease activity. CIC estimation by ELISA may be used in addition to or as an alternative to current standards of laboratory tests for the serological assessment of activity.