Serum concentration of soluble interleukin 2 receptors in bronchial asthma [in children]: correlation with disease activity

Thirty eight children suffering from acute episode of bronchial asthma, 28 children, with stable bronchial asthma, and 20 apparently healthy children as controls were included in this study. All subjects were blood sampled twice at two weeks intervals. First blood sample was taken prior to the commencement of corticosteroids, bronchodilators, or antibiotics to acute bronchial asthma patients group. Identification of microbial agents was done by culture of pharyngeal swab on different culture media. Virus infection was diagnosed by complement fixation test [C.F.T]. Soluble serum Interleukin-2R [sIL-2R] level was mesured by ELISA technique. From patients suffering from acute episode of bronchial asthma, Respiratory syncytial virus [RSV] was diagnosed in 29%, Adenovirus [Types: 3, 4, 7] in 21%, mycoplasmal uroplasma in 15.8%, and Candida albicans in 39. 4% and mixed infection in 10.5%; Influenza viruses [Types: A, Band Parainfluenza-l] in 2-6% and Parainfluenza-3 in 2-6%. The mean soluble serum sIL-2R was significantly higher in acute bronchial asthma patients before treatment [1669. 6 +/- 790 U/mI] than after treatment with corticosteroids [799. 2 +/- 626. 2 U/mI], which in turn was significantly higher when compared with stable cases [562.3 +/- 271.3 U/ml] P=0.0000, and control group [380 +/- 257 U/mI] P=0.0000 Also, sIL-2R levels in patients with viral infections [1829 +/- 773.7 U/mI] did not show significant difference when compared with patients with mixed infection [virus and microbial agents] [2320 +/- 752.6 U/mI] P=0.2622 and in turn, it was significantly higher when compared with patients with microbial agents [1324 +/- 678.7 U/mI] p < 0.0000. The results of this study suggest that sIL-2R level may be of value in monitoring bronchial asthma activity. Virus infection have a role in exacerbation of asthma. Mycoplasma as a cause of exacerbation of asthma should be put in mind and the role of candida should be investigated