title: Tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-2 soluble receptor and different inflammatory parameters in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although the participation of cytokines in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) seems to be unequivocal, their relationship with current serum markers of this disease is not clear. The present study analyses whether there is any correlation between the levels of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-2 soluble receptor (sIL-2R) and the concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and beta(2)-microglobulin in a group of 21 patients with RA, all rheumatoid factor positive.
  
  
  METHODS
  The levels of TNF-alpha and sIL-2R were analysed in association with other parameters of inflammation (ESR, CRP and beta(2)-microglobulin).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In comparison with the control group, RA patients presented high median levels of both cytokines, TNF-alpha (6.4 pg/ml) and sIL-2R (56 pmol/L), as well as of ESR (34 mm/h), CRP (0.9 mg/dl) and beta(2)-microglobulin (1.6 mg/dl) (p < 0.01). However, only ESR levels in the RA group significantly differ from the control group (p < 0.01). No correlation was found between the inflammatory parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggested that TNF-alpha and slL-2R levels are up-regulated in RA patients but did not significantly differ from the control group. Due to the chronic course of this disease, other inflammatory markers must be identified in order to provide early therapeutic strategies to these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Analysis, Center of Healthy Sciences, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Campus Universitário - Trindade, 88040-970 Florianópolis, SC, Brazil. taniafrode@zipmail.com.br
authors.forename: Tânia Silvia
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Fröde
authors.forename: Patrícia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tenconi
authors.forename: Marilei Reynaud
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Debiasi
authors.forename: Yara Santos
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Medeiros
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D012995:Solubility; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein