Interleukin-6 and soluble interleukin-2-receptor in psoriatic arthritis: correlations with clinical and laboratory parameters.
OBJECTIVE
In this study we evaluated the relationships of IL-6 and sIL-2R levels with the main clinical and laboratory parameters in PsA patients with peripheral polyarthritis.


METHODS
Serum levels of IL-6 and sIL-2R were measured by an enzyme immunoassay kit in patients with peripheral (< 4 joints) PsA (n = 47), with RA (n = 41), or with psoriasis (N = 15) and in healthy volunteers (n = 15)


RESULTS
The patients with PsA had higher serum levels of IL-6 and sIL-2R than healthy volunteers and psoriatic patients, while they showed lower levels of IL-6 and sIL-2R than RA patients. We found abnormal values for IL-6 and sIL-2R in 63.8% and 57.4% of PsA patients, respectively. IL-6 levels correlated with the number of painful and swollen joints, RAI, physician's assessment, CRP and ESR, while sIL-2R levels correlated only with the number of swollen joints, the physician's assessment and ESR. IL-6 and sIL-2R correlated with each other.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study shows that IL-6 and sIL-2R may play a role in the pathogenetic mechanism of psoriatic arthritis.
Spadaro
A
A
Institute of Rheumatology. University La Sapienza Rome, Italy.
Taccari
E
E
Riccieri
V
V
Sensi
F
F
Sili Scavalli
A
A
Zoppini
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood*
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D015850:Interleukin-6; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D011241:Prednisone