Increased level of soluble interleukin-2 receptor in sera of patients with Graves' disease.
Soluble interleukin-2 receptor was studied in 20 patients with Graves' disease before and after methimazole treatment. Soluble interleukin-2 receptor level was significantly increased in newly diagnosed Graves' disease compared to controls (667 +/- 270 vs 205 +/- 45 U/ml) (P less than 0.001). In untreated patients' sera the soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels were higher in patients with active ophthalmopathy than in those without eye symptoms. Soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels were normalized in remission induced by methimazole treatment in the majority of patients except those with infiltrative ophthalmopathy. Furthermore, a correlation was found at the hyperthyroid stage of the disease between soluble interleukin-2 receptor level and titre of anti-TSH-receptor antibodies. However, the association with other parameters including anti-eye muscle, anti-thyroid peroxidase, anti-thyroglobulin antibodies was not significant.
Balázs
C S
CS
III, Department of Medicine, Teaching Hospital, Debrecen, Hungary.
D000328:Adult; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008713:Methimazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis*; D011989:Receptors, Thyrotropin / Q000276:immunology; D012074:Remission Induction
D000906:Antibodies; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D011989:Receptors, Thyrotropin; D008713:Methimazole