【Abstract】Objective To study the expression of serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) level in perioperative period of patients with obstructive jaundice and its clinical significance. Methods Serum sIL-2R was measured during perioperative period in 30 patients with obstructive jaundice by using a sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results The preoperative serum sIL-2R level in patients with obstructive jaundice was increased obviously. The expression of serum sIL-2R level in them was correlated with the degree and duration of obstructive jaundice and nutritional status respectively (r=0.734, P＜0.01; r=0.646, P＜0.01; r=0.594, P＜0.05). The serum sIL-2R in the patients with malignant obstructive jaundice was significantly higher than that with benign obstructive jaundice (P＜0.05). Among the patients with malignant obstructive jaundice, the serum sIL-2R level in the patients with metastasis was higher than in those without metastasis (P＜0.05). The immunologic function underwent a process from temporary suppression to gradual recovery during perioperative period. On the 21th day after operation the sIL-2R was recovered to normal level in patients with benign obstructive jaundice while it only recovered to preoperative level in patients with malignant obstructive. Conclusion Depressed immunity is observed in patients with obstructive jaundice. The abnormal expression of sIL-2R is related to the type, degree and duration of obstructive jaundice and the nutritional status and metastasis. The result that preoperative sIL-2R might be used to evaluate the state of immunity, clinical condition, and treatment and prognosis of patients with obstructive jaundice.