title: Plasma interleukin-6 and renin substrate in reactive arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: In order to study the role of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in inflammatory disease we monitored plasma levels of IL-6 and acute phase proteins such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and renin substrate (RS) in patients with reactive arthritis (ReA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Venous plasma samples were collected: (1) during the acute phase or exacerbation of the disease, and (2) several months latter during convalescence. Increased mean [95% confidence intervals (CI)] levels of plasma IL-6 were observed in patients with ReA both in the acute phase and later, 229 (177 to 280) ng/l and 197 (134 to 260) ng/l respectively (P less than 0.001 as compared to controls). The corresponding plasma IL-6 levels in RA patients were 283 (223 to 340) ng/l and 183 (151 to 226) ng/l, respectively (P less than 0.001 as compared to controls). Plasma IL-6 levels in SLE patients were not increased. Plasma RS levels were increased in all patient groups, but no significant correlation to IL-6 or CRP levels was observed, whereas plasma IL-6 and CRP levels showed a positive correlation in ReA and RA patients.
authors.affiliation: Fourth Department of Medicine, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Metsärinne
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Nordström
authors.forename: Y T
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Konttinen
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Teppo
authors.forename: F Y
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Fyhrquist
mesh_terms: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000808:Angiotensinogen / Q000097:blood*; D016918:Arthritis, Reactive / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000091402:Prohibitins; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D015850:Interleukin-6; C000717331:PHB2 protein, human; D000091402:Prohibitins; D000808:Angiotensinogen; D002097:C-Reactive Protein