Unlimited cytokine production regulates chronic inflammation and joint destruction in patients with inflammatory joint diseases. Chronic inflammation in such patients is induced by the imbalance between the pro- and antiinflammatory cytokines.Potential triggers for this process are the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6. The aim of the study is to assess the correlation between their levels and the activity indices in patients with inflammatory joint diseases .
213 patients with RA, AS and PsA and a control group of 31 healthy subjects were studied.All patients were tested for TNF-α and IL-6 prior to treatment initiation with blockers of TNF-α.Disease indices were used to evaluate disease activity.
There is strong correlation between serum levels of TNF-α and IL-6 prior treatment in patients with RA(rs=-0.018;p=0.001). Similar relationship exists between the tested cytokines and the index of activity and HAQ-DI (rs=0.033;p=0.003). (Rs=-0.025;p=0.001)Between the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 prior treatment initiation in patients with AS has a strong correlation(rs=-0.010;p=0.004). Relationship exists between the cytokines and activity index BASFI, ASDAS and BASDAI, respectively for TNF-α (rs=-0.176;p=0.041),(rs=0.342;p=0.001),(rs=367;p=0.001) and for IL-6(rs=0.406,p=0.016),(rs=-0.083;p=0.002),(rs=263;p=0.001). Between levels of TNF-α and IL-6 prior treatment in patients with PsA no significant correlation was observed(rs=-0.031;p =0.827).There was also no significant correlation between DAPSA index and IL-6 (rs=-0.187;p=0.237) and between IL-6 and HAQ-DI (rs=-0.035;p =0.827) .
Between the serum levels of TNF -α and IL -6, and the indices for activity in patients with inflammatory joint disease there is a strong correlation relationship, which reflects the importance of these cytokines for clinical evaluation of patients.