Levels of soluble IL‐2 receptor in plasma from asthmatics. Correlations with blood eosinophilia, lung function, and corticosteroid therapy

SUMMARY Evidence now suggests that cosinophils and T lymphocytes infiltrating bronchial tissues may play a key role in the pathophysiology of asthma. Circulating cosinophils, lung function, and plasma soluble IL‐2 receptor (sIL‐2R) were measured in 42 asthmatic patients referred for symptomatic asthma. The patients were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of atopy. The group of non‐atopic asthmatics was further divided according to the patients’ requirement for long term oral corticosteroids. The mean sIL‐2R ± s.d. was 36.3 ± 9.9 pM in the control group, 28.9 ± 9.2 pM in the atopic asthmatics, 43.3 ±18.07 pM in the non‐atopic asthmatics without oral steroid therapy, but was increased in the steroid‐treated group (62.2 ±19‐3 pM, P