Serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels before and during interferon treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection

To determine the role of serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) in c hronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, the level of serum sIL-2R was mea sured in sera of 105 patients with chronic HBV infection and in 21 healthy controls, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Serum sIL-2R levels were significantly higher in chronic HBV-infected patients with chronic hepatit is (508 +/- 310 units/ml) and liver cirrhosis (543 +/- 283 units/ml) than i n healthy controls (331 +/- 106 units/ml, P < 0.05). Moreover, serum sIL-2R levels were significantly higher in patients with chronic hepatitis or liv er cirrhosis than in asymptomatic HBV carriers (341 +/- 150 units/ml, P < 0 .01). There was no difference in serum sIL-2R levels between asymptomatic H BV carriers and healthy controls or between patients with chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis. A significant relationship was found between serum sI L-2R and ALT levels (P < 0.05) in patients with chronic HBV infection, alth ough there was no correlation between sIL-2R and HBV DNA levels. Serum sIL- 2R levels in most patients decreased to the same level as asymptomatic HBV carriers and healthy controls at 48 weeks after the end of treatment, and s erum ALT and HBV DNA levels were decreased to within the normal range at 96 weeks. Thus, serum sIL-2R levels indicate the degree of liver damage among patients with chronic HBV infection. The serum sIL-2R levels one year afte r interferon administration may be a useful marker of determined at the eff ectiveness by this treatment.