Serum cytokines levels in rheumatoid arthritis patients receiving methotrexate therapy

Abstract EN

The inflammatory activity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is based on clinical observations and determination of conventional parameters of inflammation such as CRP and ESR.

However, in recent reports elevated levels of cytokines, cytokine receptors, and other immunology markers of inflammation have been proposed as potential measures of disease activity.

The aim of this study was to measure the serum levels of Soluble Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptors (STNFRs) (P55 P75) and IL-6 in RA patients before and after treatment with methotrexate (MTX) and to correlate their level with the activity of the disease and clinical improvement.

STNFRs (P55, P75) and IL-6 were measured in the sera of 35 RA patients before and after MTX therapy for 5 months and in the sera of 20 matched control individuals with ELISA.

The serum levels of (P55, P75) and IL-6 were significantly higher in RA patients than controls.

Significant decrease in P55-STNFRs level was associated with clinical improvement in RA patient treated with MTX for 5 months.

But there were no significant changes in P75-STNFR and IL-6 in these patients with MTX therapy.