The soluble interleukin-2 receptor as an indicator of clinical evolution in patients with ulcerative colitis.
OBJECTIVE
The soluble interleukin-2 receptor is a useful, non-specific marker of in-vivo activated cellular immune functions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between this marker and clinical evolution of ulcerative colitis.


METHODS
Serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels were determined, by an enzyme immune assay, in 105 patients affected by ulcerative colitis with different extent and activity of disease. Forty-six of these patients were restaged in a follow-up study, and their serum-soluble interleukin-2 receptor concentrations were measured again.


RESULTS
Serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor level is higher in pan-ulcerative colitis than in left ulcerative colitis (P = 0.050) and much higher in active than in quiescent stage of disease (P = 0.029). Clinical relapse of disease is accompanied by a serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor rise (P = 0.0697), whereas clinical and histological improvement in disease is accompanied by its significant decrease (P = 0.0009).


CONCLUSIONS
In ulcerative colitis the serum determination of soluble interleukin-2 receptor is a useful and non-invasive marker of activity, and also extension and evolution of the disease.
Balzano
A
A
Department of Gastroenterology, A. Cardarelli Hospital, Naples, Italy.
Bove
A
A
Leonardi
E
E
Bevilacqua
N
N
Grande
G
G
Ascierto
P A
PA
Castello
G
G
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood*; D012016:Reference Values; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D015415:Biomarkers; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2