Interleukin-6 in systemic sclerosis and potential correlation with pulmonary involvement

Background: A progressive pulmonary involvement is frequent in systemic sclerosis and it is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. IL-6 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis via stimulation of fibroblasts to produce excess collagen and glycosaminoglycan. Specific correlation between IL-6 and lung involvement have not been found yet. Aim: To study the possible correlation between lung involvement (assessed by spirometry and HRCT abnormalities) and the serum level of IL-6. Subjects and methods: 20 patients with scleroderma compared with 20 matched volunteers as control group. All participants underwent spirometry, HRCT scan and serum IL-6 measurements. HRCT signs were scored according to Warrick et al. score for systemic sclerosis. Results: Patients showed a statistically significant reduction in FVC%, FEF 25-75% and significantly higher ESR and IL-6 compared to control. There was a highly significant positive correlation between the total HRCT score and serum IL-6. Conclusion: Serum IL-6 could be a marker of the degree of pulmonary involvement in patients with systemic sclerosis. (C) 2014 Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of The Egyptian Society of Chest Diseases and Tuberculosis.