title: Serum markers of T-cell activation in relapses of Wegener's granulomatosis.
abstract: Levels of soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R), soluble CD4 (sCD4) and CD8 (sCD8) were measured by sandwich ELISA as markers for T-cell activation in serial serum samples drawn monthly from 16 patients showing 18 histologically proven relapses of Wegener's granulomatosis (WG). Levels of sIL-2R increased from 1162 U/ml (median, 95% CI 843 to 1814 U/ml) at three months before the relapse to 1684 U/ml (95% CI 1254 to 2202 U/ml) at the time of relapse for the whole group (P = 0.10). The 8 major relapses showed a profound rise in sIL-2R levels (P < 0.01). The level of sIL-2R at the moment of relapse correlated with the level of C-reactive protein (r = 0.547, P < 0.05) and with the disease activity score (r = 0.814, P < 0.001). There were no significant changes in levels of sCD4 or sCD8.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, University Hospital Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Stegeman
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Tervaert
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Huitema
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Kallenberg
mesh_terms: D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000097:blood; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000097:blood; D014890:Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D012008:Recurrence; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; D001323:Autoantibodies; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2