Elevated serum levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptor in patients with Wegener's granulomatosis. Association with disease activity

✍ Scribed by Wilhelm H. Schmitt; Christoph Heesen; Elena Csernok; Annegret Rautmann; Wolfgang L. Gross

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1992
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 770 KB
• Volume: 35
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0004-3591
• DOI: 10.1002/art.1780350914

✦ Synopsis

To investigate whether soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-~R), a marker of T cell activation, could be a useful marker of disease activity in Wegener's granulomatosis (WG).

Methods. Soluble IL-2R levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. WG disease activity in 102 patients was assessed according to clinical features and levels of classic antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (c-ANCA) and C-reactive protein (CRP).

Results. Soluble IL-2R levels were higher in patients with generalized and active disease than in those with limited and inactive disease. In 25 patients with complete clinical remission, sIL-2R levels were significantly elevated, although levels of CRP and c-ANCA were normal. Eight of these 25 patients had disease relapses within 6 months. Levels of sIL-2R were significantly higher in patients who had relapses than in those who did not. Patients with clinically active WG but low c-ANCA or CRP levels had elevated levels of Conclusion. Levels of sIL-2R correlate with disease activity in patients with WG, and may indicate imminent relapse.