title: Serum levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptor in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis.
abstract: Serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) concentrations were determined using the ELISA method in 19 cases of ANCA-associated vasculitis. These patients were classified as 7 cases of Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) and 12 cases of microscopic polyangiitis (MPA). Elevated levels of sIL-2R were present in the sera of these patients. Levels of serum sIL-2R were not significantly different in patients with WG and MPA either in the active or inactive phase, so the results were expressed as a unified ANCA associated vasculitis group. Concentrations of serum sIL-2R were significantly higher in ANCA-associated vasculitis during the active phase than during the inactive phase (p<0.05), and serum sIL-2R levels were significantly increased in these patients, in the active or inactive stage, compared with a group of healthy subjects (p<0.05). In patients with vasculitis, serum sIL-2R levels correlated with serum levels of C-reactive protein (p<0.05). In the active phase, concentrations of serum sIL-2R correlated to creatinine concentrations. No correlation was found between sIL-2R and ANCA levels in any of the stages of the disease. These findings suggest cellular immune activation in ANCA associated vasculitis.
authors.affiliation: Nephrology Service, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Spain. arranz@medicina.ub.es
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Arranz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ara
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saurina
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mirapeix
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Darnell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood*; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2