Serial soluble interleukin 2 receptor levels in rheumatoid arthritis: differences in response to glucocorticoid treatment and chrysotherapy.
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.
Kirkham
B W
BW
Rheumatology Unit, United Medical School, Guy's Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
Davison
S C
SC
Corkill
M M
MM
Barbatis
C
C
Panayi
G S
GS
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
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D017252:CD3 Complex; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D006052:Gold Sodium Thiomalate; D000077555:Methylprednisolone Acetate; D008775:Methylprednisolone