INTERLEUKIN-6 (IL-6) AND SOLUBLE IL-2 RECEPTOR LEVELS IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS TREATED WITH LOW-DOSE ORAL METHOTREXATE

Objective. To investigate the effect of oral methotrexate (MTX) on cir culating levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL -2R) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods. We measured serum concentrations of IL-6 (n = 20) and sIL-2R (n = 16) before MTX t herapy and again after 12 weeks. Results. MTX significantly reduced IL -6 and sIL-2R after 12 weeks of therapy, and although the levels remai ned low at 24 weeks of therapy, the reduction was not significant, Red uction in cytokine levels was paralleled by an improvement in clinical indices. Placebo treatment did not significantly alter IL-6 or sIL-2R . Conclusion. MTX appears capable of cytokine modulation, although the mechanism is not clear.