ACUTE-PHASE PROTEINS AND INTERLEUKINS IN STEADY-STATE SICKLE-CELL DISEASE

To identify a possible acute phase response during the steady state of sickle cell disease, we estimated the serum alterations of acute phas e proteins, beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2M), kappa and lambda light cha ins, interleukins (ILs) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) in 21 patients. Increased concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP) wer e found in 5 patients, alpha-1-acid-glycoprotein (AGP) in 3, alpha-l-a ntitrypsin (AAT) in 8, ceruloplasmin (CER) in 2, alpha-2-macroglobulin (AMG) in 14 and decreased haptoglobin (HPT) and transferrin (TFR) in 11 and 9, respectively. Increased beta 2M was found in 10 patients and kappa and lambda light chains in 11. IL-1 beta, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and TNF alpha were not detected in any of the patients. However, signific antly increased values of IL-6 and sIL-2r were found. This study has d emonstrated increased serum levels of some of the acute phase proteins in patients during the steady state of sickle cell disease. This may be a result of a subclinical vaso-occlusion which in turn leads to a c overt inflammatory response. Cytokines, and in particular IL-6, produc ed after this response, seem to be responsible for the high levels of acute phase proteins in the steady state of this disease.