Soluble interleukin-2 receptor in Crohn's disease: relation of serum concentrations to disease activity.
Serum concentrations of soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) were measured as a marker of immune activation in a group of 30 patients with Crohn's disease. sIL-2R concentrations were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay during periods of active and inactive disease and correlated with standard parameters of disease activity. Serum concentrations of sIL-2R were significantly raised in patients with active Crohn's disease compared with patients with inactive disease (p less than 0.001) and control subjects. There was a significant correlation between serum sIL-2R concentrations and disease activity as assessed by the Harvey-Bradshaw index (r = 0.42, p less than 0.01), platelet numbers (r = 0.49, p less than 0.01), and orosomucoid (r = 0.47, p less than 0.01), alpha 1 antitrypsin (r = 0.44, p less than 0.01), and C reactive protein concentrations (r = 0.48, p less than 0.001) but not with the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Measurement of serum sIL-2R concentration is a simple and useful laboratory means of assessing disease activity. Raised concentrations in patients with active Crohn's disease is further evidence for in vivo immune activation occurring in this disease.
Department of Medicine, St James's University Hospital, Leeds.
J E
JE
Crabtree
L D
LD
Juby
R V
RV
Heatley
A J
AJ
Lobo
D W
DW
Bullimore
A T
AT
Axon
D000328:Adult; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010976:Platelet Count; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000032:analysis
D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein