title: Elevated serum levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptor in patients with Wegener's granulomatosis. Association with disease activity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R), a marker of T cell activation, could be a useful marker of disease activity in Wegener's granulomatosis (WG).
  
  
  METHODS
  Soluble IL-2R levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. WG disease activity in 102 patients was assessed according to clinical features and levels of classic antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (c-ANCA) and C-reactive protein (CRP).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Soluble IL-2R levels were higher in patients with generalized and active disease than in those with limited and inactive disease. In 25 patients with complete clinical remission, sIL-2R levels were significantly elevated, although levels of CRP and c-ANCA were normal. Eight of these 25 patients had disease relapses within 6 months. Levels of sIL-2R were significantly higher in patients who had relapses than in those who did not. Patients with clinically active WG but low c-ANCA or CRP levels had elevated levels of sIL-2R.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Levels of sIL-2R correlate with disease activity in patients with WG, and may indicate imminent relapse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, University of Lübeck, Germany.
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Schmitt
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Heesen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Csernok
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rautmann
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Gross
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D014890:Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D012008:Recurrence; D012995:Solubility; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; D001323:Autoantibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D002097:C-Reactive Protein