Chitotriosidase and soluble IL-2 receptor: comparison of two markers of sarcoidosis severity.

Background. Sarcoidosis is a multisystemic granulomatous disease with an unpredictable clinical course characterized by accumulation of activated proliferating T lymphocytes and mononuclear phagocytes in affected organs. Aims and methods . The aims of this study were to describe the clinical, radiological and immunological features of a population of sarcoidosis patients followed at the Sarcoidosis Regional Centre in Siena and to analyse chitotriosidase and sIL-2R concentrations in serum of these patients in order to understand their potential as disease markers. Results . Chitotriosidase and sIL-2R concentrations in serum of sarcoidosis patients were found to be significantly higher than in healthy controls (p<0.01) and a positive correlation between the two markers was documented for the first time. Moreover, chitotriosidase and sIL-2R were expressed differently in different radiographic stages of the disease. Conclusion . Chitotriosidase and sIL-2R are two markers of sarcoidosis of different origin, the values of which show a correlation in these patients; they are easily detectable in serum and could be useful clinical markers of progression.