SERUM LEVEL OF SOLUBLE INTERLEUKIN-2 RECEPTOR ALPHA AS A PREDICTOR OF TREATMENT RESPONSE IN BRUCELLOSIS

Abstract

Introduction: Iran is one of the endemic regions with high prevalence of brucellosis. Several
serological markers for diagnosis and response to treatment are available. Serum level of Soluble
Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha (SIL-2R) is a new marker to assess response to therapy and clinical
relapse of brucellosis. This study intends to investigate the serum levels of SIL-2R before and
after treatment, to evaluate this marker for patients responding to treatment of brucellosis.
Methods: This study is an analytical cross-sectional study. Forty patients who had clinical signs of
brucellosis and serological tests confirmed the disease have been treated with standard antibiotics
for 6 weeks. 2ME and SIL-2R levels were measured before and after treatment and these values
were compared. Results: Among the 40 patients, 27 patients (67.5%) had improvement in
symptoms and 13 patients (32.5%) had no symptoms after treatment. In Comparing serum levels of
SIL-2R and 2ME before and after treatment, decreasing of both markers after treatment was
significant (p<0.001). In patients with false positive for 2ME, SIL-2R in 57% of patients had a
reduction, but in patients with false negative for 2ME, SIL-2R in only 28% of patients increased.
Conclusion: Not only is Serum level of SIL-2R useful for predicting response to treatment of
brucellosis, but also in cases of false positive of 2ME can be helpful.
Keywords: Brucellosis, SIL-2R, 2ME