Soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2 R), a valuable diagnostic biomarker for sarcoidosis, has been reported with variable results. Based on the literatures currently accessible, a systematic review and meta-analysis of the diagnostic performance of serum sIL-2 R for sarcoidosis were performed.

Relevant studies investigating sIL-2 R for sarcoidosis diagnosis in several databases were searched and data on sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) were pooled by STATA 16.0 software. Overall test performance was assessed using summary receiver operating characteristic curves and the area under the curve (AUC). Potential publication bias was assessed by Deeks test.

We included eleven studies involving 1,424 subjects, with 1,099 cases of sarcoidosis and 325 of non-sarcoidosis. The pooled parameters of sIL-2 R in diagnosing sarcoidosis were summarized as follows: sensitivity, 0.85 (95% CI: 0.72-0.93); specificity, 0.88 (95% CI: 0.72-0.96); PLR, 7.3 (95% CI: 2.7-20.1); NLR, 0.17 (95% CI:0.08-0.36); DOR, 44 (95% CI: 8-231); and the AUC, 0.93 (95% CI: 0.90-0.95). No publication bias was identified ( = 0.64).

Evidence suggests sIL-2 R performs well in diagnosing sarcoidosis. Nevertheless, results of sIL-2 R assay should be interpreted with other diagnostic examinations.