[Dynamics of interleukin 2 production in patients with diffuse toxic goiter under the influence of treatment]

The paper is devoted to the results of a study of IL-2 production by T-helpers in the course of treatment of patients with diffuse toxic goiter (DTG); 30 patients and 30 healthy controls were investigated. The diagnosis of DTG was confirmed by modern methods including radioimmunoassays. A study of the blood level (relative and absolute) of T-lymphocytes in the patients before therapy, during 2 and 12 mos. of thimazol therapy and during remission of disease showed its significant decrease as compared to the controls. IL-2 production in the blood lymphocyte culture supernatant of the DTG patients was assessed by testing on 3H-thymidine labeled ConA-T-blasts. A rise of the stimulation index before therapy and during 2 mos. of therapy, its normalization at the subsequent stage of therapy and the reduction in the patients with remission of thyrotoxicosis were established. A double control of IL-2 production (resulting from therapy and the level of thyroid hormones T3 and T4 decreasing during therapy) was assumed. The results of the study suggested the selectivity of affection of T-lymphocyte subpopulations in DTG and confirmed the preserving of T-helper function.