Background: The serum levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptor (S-sIL-2R) have been shown to be related to clinical outcome in Hodgkin's disease (HD). sIL-2R may be involved in or aggravate the immunodeficiency seen in HD patients. This immunodeficiency is most pronounced in elderly patients.
Patients and methods: S-sIL-2R was determined in 127 untreated patients with HD, diagnosed between 1979 and 1991, in order to evaluate its prognostic value in relation to other known prognostic variables with special emphasis on the elderly.
Results: S-sIL-2R levels were significantly higher in patients with stages III-IV and with B-symptoms (p < 0.001) but not in patients over 60 years of age. In multivariate analyses, S-sIL-2R, stage and S-orosomucoid were the most important prognostic factors in all patients and S-sIL-2R was the only prognostic factor in patients over the age of 60.
Conclusions: The results indicate a future role for estimation of S-sIL-2R in the management of patients with HD.