High interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha serum levels in hepatitis C infection associated or not with mixed cryoglobulinemia.
The objective of this study is to evaluate serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) in a series of patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related mixed cryoglobulinemia (HCV-MC) and to correlate these parameters with the clinical features of the disease. Serum IL-6 and TNF-a were assayed in 61 patients with HCV-MC, in 61 sex- and age-matched patients with HCV chronic hepatitis without cryoglobulinemia (HCV+), and in 61 sex- and age-matched healthy controls. HCV-MC patients showed significantly higher mean IL-6 levels than controls (p=0.005) or HCV+ patients (p = 0.02). Moreover, IL-6 was increased in cryoglobulinemic patients with active vasculitis, even if the statistical significance was not reached (p=0.056). Serum TNF-a levels were significantly higher in HCV-MC than in HCV+ or in controls (p<0.01). The study demonstrates high IL-6 and TNF-a serum levels in HCV-MC patients; moreover, IL-6 levels tended to be higher in HCV-MC patients in presence of active vasculitis.
Antonelli
Alessandro
A
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Pisa, School of Medicine, Via Roma, 67, 56100, Pisa, Italy. a.antonelli@med.unipi.it
Ferri
Clodoveo
C
Ferrari
Silvia Martina
SM
Ghiri
Emiliano
E
Marchi
Santino
S
Colaci
Michele
M
Bruschi
Fabrizio
F
Fallahi
Poupak
P
D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003449:Cryoglobulinemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*
D015415:Biomarkers; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha