Circulating soluble interleukin‐2 receptor level predicts remission in very early reactive arthritis

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the predictive value of serum soluble interleukin‐2 receptor (sIL‐2R) levels in patients with acute reactive arthritis (ReA).

Methods: The study includes 26 patients with acute ReA who had participated in a prospective population‐based cohort study of very early arthritis. The patients had had arthritis of at least one joint with a maximum duration of 3 months. They were assessed by a rheumatologist on presentation and 6 months later. Serum sIL‐2R levels on presentation were measured by the Immulite automated immunoassay analyser. Remission at 6 months, defined by the absence of swollen and tender joints, was related to the baseline sIL‐2R level using a permutation test with general scores. Bootstrap estimation was used to derive the 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results: A total of 17 patients (65%) were in remission at 6 months and nine patients (35%) still had joint symptoms. In patients reaching remission within 6 months, the mean baseline sIL‐2R level, 891 U/mL (95% CI: 658 to 1123), was higher than in patients not reaching remission, 501 U/mL (95% CI: 436 to 566), p = 0.022.

Conclusions: A high serum sIL‐2R level at baseline is a predictor of remission in patients with acute ReA.