title: Serum cytokine levels correlate with clinical parameters in Hodgkin's disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It has been suggested that cytokines are involved in the pathogenesis of Hodgkin's disease. Enhanced expression of various cytokines has been demonstrated in cell lines and biopsy specimens from patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this investigation 14 cytokines were analysed by ELISA in sera of a large panel of patients with HD and compared with clinical and serological parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Increased levels of soluble IL-2 receptors (sIL-2R), IL-6, IL-7, IL-8 and G-CSF, were found in many patients with HD as opposed to healthy individuals. In contrast, IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, TNF alpha, TNF beta and GM-CSF were rarely detectable. Serum concentrations of sIL-2R, IL-6 and IL-7 were significantly correlated with advanced stage of HD and, together with G-CSF levels, with the presence of B-symptoms. In addition, elevated cytokines correlated with several laboratory parameters. In the majority of patients the serum levels of cytokines decreased after therapy. However, elevated cytokine levels persisted in some patients in complete remission. Patients with normal IL-6 levels had better event-free survivals than patients with elevated IL-6 levels but this difference has not reached significance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that enhanced levels of sIL-2R, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8 and G-CSF, are correlated with disease activity and clinical symptoms in HD.
authors.affiliation: Klinik I für Innere Medizin, Universität Köln, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gorschlüter
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bohlen
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hasenclever
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Diehl
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tesch
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000097:blood; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000097:blood; D015851:Interleukin-7 / Q000097:blood; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D012995:Solubility
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D015848:Interleukin-5; D015851:Interleukin-7; D016209:Interleukin-8; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor