Abstract
Objectives-To determine if the presence of low percentages of CD8 positive cells or high levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptors (sIL-2R) define a subgroup of patients with more severe polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis (PMR/GCA). Methods-38 PMR/GCA patients were followed up prospectively. Serum levels of sIL-2R and peripheral blood CD8 lymphocytes were measured before the start of corticosteroid treatment, after six months of treatment and at the last visit. Phenotypical analysis of lymphocyte subpopulations was performed with a two colour technique, and assay of sIL-2R was performed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent kit. Forty four healthy people matched for age and gender comprised a healthy control group. Results-The median duration of follow up was 28 months (range 7-65). Corticosteroid treatment lasted a median of 23-5 months (7-65). Eleven patients (29%) were in remission at the end of follow up; 45% of the patients had at least one relapse or recurrence. Compared with controls, patients with active disease had a significantly lower percentage ofCD8 cells and significantly increased sIL-2R levels. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C reactive protein, and sIL-2R values were significantly less after six months of steroid treatment compared with before treatment. The percentage of CD8 cells remained significantly lower at six months and the end of follow up compared with controls, while sIL-2R levels remained significantly greater. Patients in whom the percentage ofCD8 cells at six months was lower than one SD of the mean of normal controls (26%) had a significantly longer duration of corticosteroid treatment, a greater cumulative dose ofprednisone and more relapses or recurrences compared with patients in whom the percentage was in the normal range. The duration of treatment and the cumulative dose of prednisone were not influenced by the percentage of CD8 cells before treatment therapy or by the levels of sIL-2R after six months oftreatment. Conclusions-A reduced percentage of CD8 cells after six months of treatment may be a useful outcome parameter which would identify a group of PMR/GCA patients likely to experience more severe disease, defined as longer duration of corticosteroid treatnent, higher cumulative dose of prednisone, and relapse or recurrence of disease.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 640-644 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases |
| Volume | 54 |
| Issue number | 8 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1995 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ophthalmology
- Sensory Systems
- Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Rheumatology
Cite this
Role of peripheral CD8 lymphocytes and soluble IL-2 receptor in predicting the duration of corticosteroid treatment in polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis. / Salvarani, Carlo; Boiardi, Luigi; MacChioni, Pierluigi; Rossi, Fulvia; Tartoni, Pierluigi; Maldini, Mario Casadei; Mancini, Rita; Beltrandi, Elisabetta; Portioli, Italo.
In: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, Vol. 54, No. 8, 1995, p. 640-644.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Role of peripheral CD8 lymphocytes and soluble IL-2 receptor in predicting the duration of corticosteroid treatment in polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis
AU - Salvarani, Carlo
AU - Boiardi, Luigi
AU - MacChioni, Pierluigi
AU - Rossi, Fulvia
AU - Tartoni, Pierluigi
AU - Maldini, Mario Casadei
AU - Mancini, Rita
AU - Beltrandi, Elisabetta
AU - Portioli, Italo
PY - 1995
Y1 - 1995
N2 - Objectives-To determine if the presence of low percentages of CD8 positive cells or high levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptors (sIL-2R) define a subgroup of patients with more severe polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis (PMR/GCA). Methods-38 PMR/GCA patients were followed up prospectively. Serum levels of sIL-2R and peripheral blood CD8 lymphocytes were measured before the start of corticosteroid treatment, after six months of treatment and at the last visit. Phenotypical analysis of lymphocyte subpopulations was performed with a two colour technique, and assay of sIL-2R was performed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent kit. Forty four healthy people matched for age and gender comprised a healthy control group. Results-The median duration of follow up was 28 months (range 7-65). Corticosteroid treatment lasted a median of 23-5 months (7-65). Eleven patients (29%) were in remission at the end of follow up; 45% of the patients had at least one relapse or recurrence. Compared with controls, patients with active disease had a significantly lower percentage ofCD8 cells and significantly increased sIL-2R levels. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C reactive protein, and sIL-2R values were significantly less after six months of steroid treatment compared with before treatment. The percentage of CD8 cells remained significantly lower at six months and the end of follow up compared with controls, while sIL-2R levels remained significantly greater. Patients in whom the percentage ofCD8 cells at six months was lower than one SD of the mean of normal controls (26%) had a significantly longer duration of corticosteroid treatment, a greater cumulative dose ofprednisone and more relapses or recurrences compared with patients in whom the percentage was in the normal range. The duration of treatment and the cumulative dose of prednisone were not influenced by the percentage of CD8 cells before treatment therapy or by the levels of sIL-2R after six months oftreatment. Conclusions-A reduced percentage of CD8 cells after six months of treatment may be a useful outcome parameter which would identify a group of PMR/GCA patients likely to experience more severe disease, defined as longer duration of corticosteroid treatnent, higher cumulative dose of prednisone, and relapse or recurrence of disease.
AB - Objectives-To determine if the presence of low percentages of CD8 positive cells or high levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptors (sIL-2R) define a subgroup of patients with more severe polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis (PMR/GCA). Methods-38 PMR/GCA patients were followed up prospectively. Serum levels of sIL-2R and peripheral blood CD8 lymphocytes were measured before the start of corticosteroid treatment, after six months of treatment and at the last visit. Phenotypical analysis of lymphocyte subpopulations was performed with a two colour technique, and assay of sIL-2R was performed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent kit. Forty four healthy people matched for age and gender comprised a healthy control group. Results-The median duration of follow up was 28 months (range 7-65). Corticosteroid treatment lasted a median of 23-5 months (7-65). Eleven patients (29%) were in remission at the end of follow up; 45% of the patients had at least one relapse or recurrence. Compared with controls, patients with active disease had a significantly lower percentage ofCD8 cells and significantly increased sIL-2R levels. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C reactive protein, and sIL-2R values were significantly less after six months of steroid treatment compared with before treatment. The percentage of CD8 cells remained significantly lower at six months and the end of follow up compared with controls, while sIL-2R levels remained significantly greater. Patients in whom the percentage ofCD8 cells at six months was lower than one SD of the mean of normal controls (26%) had a significantly longer duration of corticosteroid treatment, a greater cumulative dose ofprednisone and more relapses or recurrences compared with patients in whom the percentage was in the normal range. The duration of treatment and the cumulative dose of prednisone were not influenced by the percentage of CD8 cells before treatment therapy or by the levels of sIL-2R after six months oftreatment. Conclusions-A reduced percentage of CD8 cells after six months of treatment may be a useful outcome parameter which would identify a group of PMR/GCA patients likely to experience more severe disease, defined as longer duration of corticosteroid treatnent, higher cumulative dose of prednisone, and relapse or recurrence of disease.
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U2 - 10.1136/ard.54.8.640
DO - 10.1136/ard.54.8.640
M3 - Article
C2 - 7677440
AN - SCOPUS:0029088306
VL - 54
SP - 640
EP - 644
JO - Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
JF - Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
SN - 0003-4967
IS - 8
ER -