CHANGES IN LEVELS OF SOLUBLE T-CELL ACTIVATION MARKERS, SIL-2R, SCD4 AND SCD8, IN RELATION TO DISEASE EXACERBATIONS IN PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS - A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY

Objectives-To assess serial activation of T-cell subsets in relation to auto-antibody production and the occurrence of disease exacerbations in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).Methods-To study the possible role of T-cells in the pathophysiology of the disease, 16 consecutive exacerbations were prospectively studied in a cohort of patients with SLE, and serial plasma levels of sIL-2R, sCD4, and sCD8 preceding and during these exacerbations were determined. Levels of these molecules were related to total IgM and IgG, and anti-dsDNA.Results-During major disease exacerbations (n=6), levels of sIL-2R increased significantly (pConclusions-Levels of sIL-2R are increased, and rise before major exacerbations of SLE. Levels of sCD4 and sCD8, however, are not related to levels of sIL-2R, and do not reflect B-cell activation, nor disease activity during exacerbations of SLE. Thus for the clinical follow up of SLE measurement of levels of sCD4 or sCD8 is of limited value.