PLASMA SOLUBLE INTERLEUKIN-2 RECEPTOR IN PATIENTS WITH PRIMARY MYELOFIBROSIS

Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) test, the level of soluble Tac peptide, one chain of the human interleukin-2 receptor, was measured in the plasma of 26 patients with primary myelofibrosis (MF), seven patients with polycythaemia vera and 11 normal controls. The plasma soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) was found to be significantly elevated in patients with primary MF compared to polycythaemia vera or controls (P<0.001), while the plasma sIL-2R of patients with polycythaemia vera also was found to be significantly elevated compared to controls (P<0.01). The significantly elevated value of sIL-2R seen in primary MF may be secondary to T cell activation resulting from autoimmune phenomena, and myeloblast activation with release of slL-2R may also be a contributing factor. In primary MF, plasma sIL-2R levels were also found to be correlated to survival, circulating blast cell counts, and thrombocytopenia, but not to white blood cell counts, LDH levels, degree of marrow fibrosis, or degree of splenomegaly. Patients with primary MF with higher titre of plasma sIL-2R had a shorter survival. Further studies involving more patients and longer follow-up may substantiate that plasma sIL-2R is an important prognostic indicator in primary MF.