Systemic (serum) soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels in corneal transplant recipients

Elevated soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels (sIL-2R), a measure of T cell activation, have been used as a serum marker for early rejection in solid organ transplant patients. In this preliminary study, we measured sequential sIL-2R levels of 53 otherwise immunologically normal corneal transplant recipients. Eleven of these transplants rejected; sIL-2R was significantly elevated during the acute rejection episode, compared to pre-rejection and post-rejection levels (p = 0.01). Five patients' sIL-2R rose one to nine months prior to rejection. These data indicate that sIL-2R levels may correlate with corneal graft rejection and may be predictive of impending rejection. A larger prospective study with many immunologically normal patients and careful monitoring of sIL-2R levels prior to and during the acute rejection episode will be necessary to determine the value of sIL-2R monitoring as a predictive tool for corneal graft rejection.