SERUM INTERLEUKIN-1-ALPHA AND SOLUBLE INTERLEUKIN-2 RECEPTOR CONCENTRATIONS IN CYSTIC-FIBROSIS

Interleukin (IL)-1 and IL-2 may participate in the systemic inflammato ry, response and hypergammaglobulinaemia observed in patients with cys tic fibrosis. Thirty seven patients with cystic fibrosis were compared with 25 normal controls. High IgG and IgM concentrations were associa ted with more severe pulmonary disease. IL-1alpha and soluble IL-2 rec eptor concentrations were higher in the cystic fibrosis group than in the controls and also correlated with concentrations of IgG and IgM. T hese results suggest that these cytokines may contribute to enhanced i mmunoglobulin synthesis and silent inflammatory activity in clinically stable patients with cystic fibrosis.