The author summarizes briefly the basic features of the therapeutic action of the alkylating substance, cyclophosphamide, in autoimmune diseases. On the example of lupus nephritis he investigated the development: administration of this substance from the oral continuous form to the present intermittent intravenous administration, and gives the reasons which eventually led to its introduction as a certain standard. The author evaluates all other attempts to apply this therapeutic regime not only in systemic lupus erythematosus but also in other diseases of this type such as polymyositis/dermatomyositis, diffuse scleroderma, some forms of systemic vasculitis, Behçet’s disease, and finally rare attempts in primary and secondary forms of Sjögren’s syndrome. In all these diseases the procedure proved useful in particular in serious pulmonary complications orwhen the central nervous system was affected. All mentioned experience is based on international references, most frequently from 1990–2001. The author mentions also some important details during administration including contraindications and undesirable toxic effects.

        Key words: cyclophosphamide, i.v. pulsed form, lupus nephritis, systemic rheumatic diseases