[Soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL-2R) in chronic polyarthritis].

An ELISA was used to measure soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) in the sera and synovial fluid (SF) of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Patients with seropositive, as well as seronegative RA had raised levels of sIL-2R in serum and SF compared to patients with osteoarthritis and sex-age matched healthy subjects. According to literature, sIL-2R levels in the sera of RA-patients may be a useful marker of disease activity. Increased sIL-2R levels in SF show new aspects in pathophysiology of RA.