title: Serial soluble interleukin 2 receptor levels in rheumatoid arthritis: differences in response to glucocorticoid treatment and chrysotherapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the changes in soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL-2R) levels following treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Serial measurements of sIL-2R levels were made over 24 weeks in 40 patients with RA, treated with intramuscular (im) gold plus 3 im injections of either 120 mg methylprednisolone acetate or placebo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  sIL-2R levels were reduced in the glucocorticoid treated group in contrast to the gold only group, where levels initially increased. At 24 weeks, mean sIL-2R levels did not significantly differ from pretreatment levels in either group, despite improvements in clinical measures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our study, sIL-2R levels do not correlate with short term clinical measures of disease activity. Their significance for longer term prognostic use remains to be determined.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Unit, United Medical School, Guy's Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Kirkham
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Davison
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Corkill
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barbatis
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Panayi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000378:metabolism; D006052:Gold Sodium Thiomalate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077555:Methylprednisolone Acetate; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D012995:Solubility; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D017252:CD3 Complex; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D006052:Gold Sodium Thiomalate; D000077555:Methylprednisolone Acetate; D008775:Methylprednisolone