Medizinische Universität Graz Austria/Österreich - Forschungsportal - Medical University of Graz
Gewählte Publikation:
Salmhofer, L.
Circulating cytokine levels in rheumatoid arthritis -
Value in routine clinical practice for disease activity determination
Humanmedizin; [ Diplomarbeit ] Graz Medical University; 2015. pp.
[OPEN ACCESS]
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- Autor*innen der Med Uni Graz:
- Betreuer*innen:
- Graninger Winfried
- Altmetrics:
- Abstract:
- Background: Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease characterized by synovial inflammation. In some cases joint inflammation leads to elevated circulating mediators of inflammation in serum known as cytokines. This study was designed to evaluate in a pilot fashion whether there is a reasonable potential for serum cytokine values to predict disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: Serum cytokine levels were tested in 87 unselected, consecutive RA patients employing a multiplex cytokine immunoassay. The panel of cytokines used in this current work include IL-1RA, IL-1ß, IL-2, IL-7, IL-8, IL-17, IFN-a and TNF-a. To measure the disease activity of RA individuals, the clinical disease activity index CDAI was applied. Further collected laboratory parameters include RF, ACCP, ESR and CRP. By means of regression analysis all 8 cytokine parameters, RF, ACCP, ESR and CRP were associated to CDAI. Besides an additional regression analysis between all 8 cytokine parameters was adopted. Results: A significant correlation between disease activity and serum cytokine levels was not proven, neither for seropositive RA nor for seronegative RA. Interestingly, we could separate a group of patients with strongly elevated cytokine serum levels especially for IL-1RA, IL-1ß, IL-2, IFN-a, TNF-a. In this highly inflammatory group of 12 patients the values for IL-1RA, IL-1ß, IL-2, IL-7 and IFN-a were strongly interrelated. Albeit, a group comparison did not yield any significant difference with regard to therapy, CDAI, SDAI, biological use or glucocorticoids use between the groups. Conclusion: Serum cytokine determination using a commercially available panel containing IL-1RA, IL-1ß, IL-2, IL-7, IL-8, IL-17, IFN-a and TNF-a is of limited value for clinical purposes in predicting disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis.