Pro-inflammatory role of serotonin and interleukin-6 in arthritis and spondyloarthropathies--measurement of disease activity by bone scan and effect of steroids.
OBJECTIVE
As serotonin is a mediator of inflammatory joint disease, serum levels were investigated in human patients with arthritis for a possible corresponding role as a disease marker.


METHODS
48 patients were evaluated by bone scan for disease activity. 5-HT and CRP were measured in the whole group, and IL-6 in those not yet receiving corticosteroids. The pro-inflammatory parameters were compared to each other and to scintigraphic features.


RESULTS
The serum levels of serotonin did not correspond to disease activity measured by CRP, IL-6 or activity on joints in skeletal scintigraphy. No difference was seen in comparison to the values of a control group, but when glucocorticoid treatment was included, low 5-HT serum values were observed. A significant correlation between CRP and IL-6 as indicators of inflammation and bone scan results versus CRP could be shown.


CONCLUSIONS
The measurement of serum serotonin provides no relevant information about disease activity in synovial inflammation. For monitoring osteoarthritis and synovial inflammation, bone scan and laboratory determination of CRP and IL-6 together appear to present useful information about infestation in the disease process.
Pichler
Robert
R
Institute for Nuclear Medicine and Endocrinology, General Hospital Linz, Austria. robert.pichler@akh.linz.at
Maschek
Wilhelmine
W
Krieglsteiner
Sigbert
S
Raml
Andreas
A
Schmekal
Bernhard
B
Berg
Jörg
J
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001168:Arthritis / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging / Q000379:methods; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood*
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D015850:Interleukin-6; D012701:Serotonin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D011239:Prednisolone