Changes in biochemical laboratory investigation in patients treated with constant infusion recombinant interleukin-2

Eight patients with metastatic hypernephroma were treated with constant infusion recombinant Interleukin-2 (rIL-2), changes in renal and hepatic function and protein levels were monitored during 2 cycles of treatment. The rIL-2 infusion caused a reversible fall in ures and a non-reversible rise in creatinine. Liver function tests (bilirubin, ALT, ALP and GGT) rose during rIL-2 treatment and had returned to pretreatment levels 3 weeks after the last day of rIL-2. There was also a reversible fall in serum protein levels during rIL-2 infusion. Although constant infusion rIL-2 ameliorated much of the severe toxicities usually seen with high-dose bolus rIL-2, the non-reversible rise in serum creatinine levels is not a previously reported feature of rIL-2 therapy.