Anti-infection of Low-does IL-2 in SLE

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune syndrome affecting various organs.Many feel that glucocorticoid and immunosuppressor are the standard therapy for patients with SLE. While it can improve the risk of infection among SLE patients. A novel therapy to treat SLE with low-does IL-2 has been identified recently. IL-2 also used to against some virus infect. So we hypothesized that low-dose IL-2 could reduce risk of infection in SLE patients.

Methods: A total of SLE patients (n=30) were divided into two groups randomly. One received standard therapy, while another one administrate with low-does IL-2 plus standard therapy.Each patient will be treated with low-dose IL-2. The end points are clinical and immunologic response.

Expected Results: This trail wlii provide both clinical and basic profe that low-dose IL-2 plus standard therapy have lower infection risk in SLE patients.

Inclusion criteria

• Meet the American College of Rheumatology criteria for the diagnosis of SLE.
• Under standard treatment (≥ 2 months) at the time of inclusion
• Background treatment failed to control flares or to permit prednisone tapering
• With at least one of the following manifestations: thrombocytopenia, disease-associated rash, mouth ulcer, non-infectious type of fever, active vasculitis, renal disorder(proteinuria>0.5g/day), neuropsychiatric SLE.
• Positive for at least one of the following laboratory tests: ANA>1:160, anti-dsDNA, immunoglobulin>20g/L, decreased C3 or C4, leukopenia<3×10^9/L, thrombocytopenia<100×10^9/L;
• SLE disease activity index(SLEDAI) ≥ 8.
• Negative HIV test.
• Negative for hepatitis B and C virus.
• Written informed consent form.

Exclusion criteria

• Sever chronic liver, kidney, lung or heart dysfunction; (heart failure (≥ grade III NYHA), hepatic insufficiency (transaminases> 3N) )
• Serious infection such as bacteremia, sepsis;
• Cancer or history of cancer cured for less than five years (except in situ carcinoma of the cervix or Basocellular carcinoma);
• High-dose steroid pulse therapy (>1.5mg/kg) or IV bolus of corticosteroids in the last 2 months.
• History of administration of rituximab or other biologics;
• Purified protein derivative (tuberculin) >10mm
• Mental disorder or any other chronic illness or drug-abuse that could interfere with the ability to comply with the protocol or to give information;
• Inability to comply with IL-2 treatment regimen.