Serum interleukin-6 levels and joint involvement in polyarticular and pauciarticular juvenile chronic arthritis.
We measured serum and synovial fluid interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels in patients with polyarticular-onset and pauciarticular-onset juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA), using the hybridoma cell line B9. During active disease, but not during remission, serum IL-6 levels were significantly elevated in patients with polyarticular (p < 0.0001 vs controls) and in patients with pauciarticular JCA (p < 0.01 vs controls). In patients with active polyarticular disease (polyarticular and extended pauciarticular) serum IL-6 levels correlated with the extent and severity of joint involvement (p < 0.05), with erythrocyte sedimentation rate values (p < 0.005) and with C reactive protein concentrations (p < 0.05). In patients with persistent pauciarticular JCA, serum IL-6 levels correlated with the joint swelling score (p < 0.05). Synovial fluid IL-6 levels, measured in 5 patients with pauciarticular JCA, were markedly elevated (range 600-24,000 HGF U/ml). In conclusion, our data suggest that IL-6 is an important pathogenic mediator in polyarticular and pauciarticular JCA.
De Benedetti
F
F
Università di Pavia, I.R.C.C.S. Policlinico, S. Matteo, Italy.
Robbioni
P
P
Massa
M
M
Viola
S
S
Albani
S
S
Martini
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D006825:Hybridomas / Q000166:cytology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D007596:Joints / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000737:chemistry
D015850:Interleukin-6; D002097:C-Reactive Protein