SERUM-SOLUBLE INTERLEUKIN-2 RECEPTOR LEVELS BEFORE AND AFTER SURGICAL-TREATMENT FOR GRAVES-DISEASE

Serum-soluble interleukin-2 receptor (ssIL-2R) is released from its sp ecific affinity membrane receptor on activated T lymphocytes and is de tected as a form of the alpha-chain of IL-2R in the peripheral blood. We measured the ssIL-2R levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 29 healthy subjects and 39 patients with Graves' disease who were giv en antithyroid drugs to prepare them for surgical treatment. The preop erative ssIL-2R levels in Graves' patients were significantly higher t han those in the healthy controls (681 +/- 387 vs 369 +/- 149 U/ml); i n particular, the preoperative levels in hyperthyroid patients were si gnificantly higher than those in euthyroid patients. On the 5th day af ter thyroid resection, their ssIL-2R levels (560 +/- 296 U/ml) were si gnificantly lower than the preoperative levels. There were no correlat ions between the preoperative ssIL-2R levels and the immunological par ameters such as thyroglobulin antibody, microsomal antibody, and thyro id-stimulating hormone receptor antibody. Thus, we conclude that ssIL- 2R levels can be decreased by surgical resection of goiter in Graves' patients whose hyperthyroid status does not respond to the administrat ion of antithyroid drugs, and this may be a useful indicator of immuno logical status after surgical treatment of Graves' disease.