INCREASED INTERLEUKIN-2 RECEPTOR COMPONENT IN THE SERUM OF RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS PATIENTS

Soluble interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) was determined by means of an e nzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the serum of 99 rheumatoid arthrit is (R. A.) patients. The serum values of patients with R. A. were sign ificantly raised (xBAR = 771 U/ml), p less-than-or-equal-to 0.001) com pared to healthy controls (xBAR = 342 U/ml). The highest levels of IL- 2R occurred in the group of patients with "active" R. A. (xBAR = 819 U /ml). IL-2 levels correlated significantly with erythrocyte sedimentat ion rate, C-reactive protein and thrombocyte count. There was a distin ct inverse correlation of IL-2R with the haemoglobin content (r = -0.5 2). These results indicate IL-2R to be a very suitable parameter for d etection of inflammatory disease activity. Since the aim of therapy to come is to take a selective influence on definite immunocompetent gro ups of cells, determination of IL-2R might be a useful laboratory para meter for monitoring inflammatory disease activity and mechanisms of i mmunoregulation.