CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID SOLUBLE INTERLEUKIN-2 RECEPTOR IN CEREBRAL LUPUS

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum samples of 20 young adults (mean a ge 41 +/- 3.4 yr) with a first episode of stroke were tested for inter leukin-2 (IL-2), soluble interleukin-2 receptor (SIL-2R), tumour necro sis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-l-beta (IL-1 beta) levels . The results were compared to 20 patients who had neurological sympto ms without evidence of a neurological disease. Three subgroups were fo rmed according to the aetiological source of the stroke, determined by the neurological examination and evaluation. In 13 patients, the pres ence of atheromatous carotid plaque or cardiac disease was found. In f ive of the patients, stroke was the presenting symptom of systemic lup us erythematosus (SLE), which developed during the follow-up period. I n two patients, no obvious aetiology could be demonstrated. The SIL-2R level was significantly higher in the CSF of patients who later devel oped definite SLE (P = 0.001). Other CSF interleukins and all serum in terleukin levels were not significantly different in any of the groups . No correlation between albumin quotient and CSF SIL-2R was found. Th e SIL-2R level in the CSF may be used as a diagnostic tool to differen tiate immunologically mediated vascular processes in the CNS from stro ke of other origin.