The soluble interleukin-2 receptor as an indicator of clinical evolution in patients with ulcerative colitis

Background/aims: 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). Conclusion: 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.