PLASMA INTERLEUKIN-2 LEVELS AND THYROID-FUNCTION IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH NONTHYROIDAL ILLNESS

To determine whether interleukin-2 (IL-2) plasma concentrations are mo dified in patients with nonthyroidal illness (NTI) and thyroid functio n alterations, we measured plasma concentrations of T-3, T-4, free T-3 (FT3), free T-4 (FT4), TSH, and IL-2 in 34 elderly NTI patients and i n 25 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. IL-2 was detectable in II of the 34 patients. Patients with detectable IL-2 plasma levels had si gnificantly lower plasma T-3 and FT3 concentrations when compared to t hose with undetectable IL-2. Moreover, IL-2 plasma levels were positiv ely correlated to reverse T-3 (rT(3)), (r(s)=0.67, P<0.05), and negati vely to FT3 concentrations (r(s) = -0.64, P<0.05). These observations suggest that some of the alterations in thyroid hormone levels seen in NTI are associated with elevated plasma concentrations of IL-2. (C) 1 998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.