Serum level of soluble interleukin-2 receptor alpha as a predictor of treatment response in brucellosis

ABSTRACT

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 alpha] 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 alpha before and after treatment, to evaluate this marker for patients responding to treatment of brucellosis. 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 alpha levels were measured before and after treatment and these values were compared. 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 alpha 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 alpha in 57% of patients had a reduction, but in patients with false negative for 2ME, SIL-2R alpha in only 28% of patients increased. Not only is Serum level of SIL-2R alpha useful for predicting response to treatment of brucellosis, but also in cases of false positive of 2ME can be helpful.