Salivary and serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor in primary Sjogren's syndrome

Salivary and serum concentrations of soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) were studied in a group of patients with Sjogren's syndrome and a group suffering from dry mouth. Salivary sIL-2R levels was significantly higher (57.9±15.1 vs 16.7±4.7 pg/ml) (p < 0.05) in the group of 26 patients with Sjogren's syndrome than in the drymouth group. Both the salivary and the serum sIL-2R of normal controls were below the level of detection. No significantly statistical differences were noted between the concentrations of serum sIL-2R in, either abnormal groups. No correlations were found between salivary or serum sIL-2R and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C- reactive protein, the presence of various autoantibodies or the focus score from lip biopsies in the group of patients with Sjogren's syndrome. The results show that, although the salivary sIL-2R does not actually reflect the extent of inflammation, it might have an important role in the diagnosis of Sjogren's syndrome.