Pleural fluid and serum soluble Interleukin-2 receptors (sIL-2R) were measured by an enzyme-immunoassay in 13 patients with tuberculous pleurisy, in 28 patients with carcinomatous pleurisy and in 17 transudates from patients with congestive heart failure. Significantly higher values of sIL-2R were observed in exudative than in transudative (x̄ ± SLM = 713 ± 111 U/ml) pleural fluid samples, the highest being found in tuberculous (3777 ± 501 U/ml) and the intermediate in carcinomatous exudates (1981 ± 160 U/ml) (p < 0.0001, one way ANOVA). Serum sIL-2R were significantly higher in cacrinomatous and transudative groups than in age- and sex-matched controls (p < 0.002; one way ANOVA), while there was no significant difference between the tuberculous group and controls. The pleura/serum sIL-2R ratio was significantly higher in tuberculous (5.32 ± 0.60), than in carcinomatous pleurisy (2.67 ± 6.20) and higher still than in transudates (0.76 ± 0.10) (p < 0.001; one way ANOVA). In conclusion, the pleura/serum sIL-2R ratio may be a helpful parameter in differentiating tuberculous from carcinomatous pleurisy and an additional confirmatory one for distinguishing transudates from exudates.

A successful pregnancy of a young woman with late-onset congenital adrenal hyperplasia (LOCAH) is reported. Exogenous glucocorticoids are the most commonly used regimen in such cases both for suppression of adrenal overstimulation and avoiding masculinization of a female fetus. In our LOCAH patient methylprednisolone has been used for treatment. We present the management and the outcome of this pregnancy, as well as the hormonal follow-up. © 1991.

Serum levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptors (sIL-2R), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), β-chorionic gonadotropin (β-HCG), pregnancy-specific glycoprotein (SP1), and β2-microglobulin (β2M) were taken in 92 patients with primary lung cancer and 43 controls. The mean value of sIL-2R in the cancer group was twice as high as that of the controls (P less than 0.001) and the highest values were observed in those with small cell carcinoma (SCC) (P less than 0.0001). Of the cancer patients, 51.1% had CEA values higher than the cutoff level of 5 ng/ml. Extended-disease patients had a higher percentage of increased CEA values than those with limited disease. Adenocarcinoma (ADCC) and SCC groups had the highest percentages of increased CEA levels. There was no significant difference between the groups for β-HCG, AFP, SP1, and β2M, and intermarker correlation was not seen. The results suggest that sIL-2R and CEA may be useful in monitoring the extent of disease and possibly indicate the histologic subtype, thus having a bearing on treatment and prognosis.