The aim of the study was, to examine the relationship between serum levels of soluble tumour necrosis factor receptors (sTNF-R) and the gene expression of two types of receptor for TNF (TNF-R), a 55 a receptor (TNF-R1) and a 75 kDa receptor (TNF-R2), bloodin peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with polymyositis and dermatomyositis (PM/DM).