Influence of corticosteroid pulse therapy on the serum levels of soluble interleukin 2 receptor, interleukin 6 and interleukin 8 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the influence of corticosteroid pulse (CP) therapy on soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL-2R), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and IL-8 levels in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA).


METHODS
Twenty-five patients with active RA were studied before and after treatment with intravenous CP therapy. In 12 patients lymphocyte subsets were also assessed.


RESULTS
All patients showed a significant decrease in clinical disease activity variables after 4 to 8 weeks of CP therapy. Baseline levels of sIL-2R were higher among patients with active RA than healthy controls; after CP therapy, sIL-2R levels decreased significantly, but not as much as the erythrocyte sedimentation rate or C-reactive protein. In most cases baseline levels of both IL-6 (n = 23) and IL-8 (n = 17) could be measured and both decreased significantly after CP therapy. Cortisol levels were suppressed shortly after CP therapy but had returned to pretreatment values at 4 weeks. After CP therapy there was a temporary increase in the number of HLA-DR positive cells and a decrease in the number of CD3 positive cells, while the CD4/CD8 ratio and IL-2 receptor (CD25) positive cells remained unchanged.


CONCLUSIONS
High dose corticosteroids influence serum levels of sIL-2R, IL-6 and IL-8 in patients with active RA.
van den Brink
H R
HR
Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
van Wijk
M J
MJ
Geertzen
R G
RG
Bijlsma
J W
JW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006046:Gold / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood*; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis*; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000097:blood; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000032:analysis; D012460:Sulfasalazine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use
D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D012460:Sulfasalazine; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D006046:Gold; D003907:Dexamethasone; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D008727:Methotrexate