INCREASED SERUM INTERLEUKIN-1-BETA DURING TREATMENT OF HYPERTHYROIDISM WITH ANTITHYROID DRUGS

Serum interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and soluble interleukin-2 recepto r (sIL-2R) levels were examined in patients with hyperthyroidism due t o Graves' disease (GD) and toxic nodular goitre (TNG) before and durin g antithyroid drug therapy. A total of 32 patients were studied; 23 pa tients (14 with GD and nine with TNG) were in a hyperthyroid state (gr oup A) and nine patients (four with GD and five with TNG) were in a eu thyroid state, under carbimazole or methimazole treatment (group B). T en hyperthyroid patients from group A (seven with GD and three with TN G) were also examined while euthyroid on treatment (Subgroup A). Serum was taken from all patients for the measurement of sIL-2R, IL-1 beta, total T-4 (TT4), total T-3 (TT3) and TSH concentrations. The results were compared with those from 30 normal controls. Serum sIL-2R levels were higher in Group A (671.3 +/- 74.0 U mL(-1), mean +/- SE), than in Group B (214.1 +/- 61.8 U mL(-1)) and controls (149 +/- 14.8 U mL(-1) ), P < 0.001. Similarly, the subgroup of 10 patients had higher levels of sIL-2R during the hyperthyroid phase than while euthyroid (P < 0.0 01). There was a positive correlation between sIL-2R values and levels of T-4 and T-3. In contrast, serum IL-1 beta levels were higher in Gr oup B patients (197.5 +/- 39.2 pg mL(-1)) compared with those in Group A (66.5 +/- 17 pg mL(-1), P < 0.01). IL-1 beta levels were also highe r in Subgroup A patients during the euthyroid than in the hyperthyroid phase of their disease (P < 0.005). In comparison with controls mean IL-1 beta levels were higher in both groups (A and B) of patients (P < 0.05 and P < 0.002, respectively). It is concluded that serum IL-1 be ta, as well as sIL-2R is elevated in hyperthyroid patients. During tre atment with antithyroid drugs sIL-2R returns to normal, but IL-1 beta increases further. The latter changes may indicate a role for IL-1 bet a in mediating antithyroid drug action.