Association between inflammatory cytokines and liver functions in rheumatoid arthritis patients

Abstract EN

Background : rheumatoid arthritis (RA) associated with abnormal liver tests, and medications used for RA are often hepatotoxic.

Therefore, this study aims to investigate an association between pro inflammatory, ant iinflammatory cytokines and liver function tests in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

materials and methods : in a descriptive cross-sectional study, 88 RA patients were included, 84 were females and 4 were males, age ranged from 21 to 81 years old.

serum interleukin 10 (IL-10), interleukin 17 (IL-17), Osteopontin OPN and liver function tests were measured.

results : the frequency of RA is higher among adults >41 Years 72(81.8%) than young adults ≤41 Years 16(18.2%), RA is common in females 84(95.5%) than males 4(4.5%) approximately 21:1 fold.

young adults had higher abnormal IL-10 than adults RA patients (OR = 3.72, p-value 0.044).

abnormal IL-17 (OR= 5.67, p-value 0.034) were found to be increased in young adults RA patients.

No association observed between age and OPN.

No association between duration of disease and IL-10, IL-17 and OPN.

No association found between types of treatment and IL-10, IL-17 and OPN.

No association observed between IL-10, IL-17, OPN and liver parameters (AST, ALT, ALP, ALB, TP, and GGT).conclusion : in conclusion proinflammatory and antiinflammatory cytokines are not associated with liver functions as has been demonstrated in RA patients.