Correlation of serum Interleukin 8 with clinical disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

Abstract

Objectives To evaluate serum Interleukin 8 (IL-8) as a predictor of disease activity in SLE and to provide insight into the potential role of IL-8 in the pathogenesis of SLE. Methods: Sixty-four paired from the 32 SLE patients and 10 healthy control were obtained. Serum IL-8 levels were determined by EUSA technique. Tests for other laboratory parameters, such as circulating immune complex (CIC), C3, C4 ANA, anti-dsDNA, Hb, Hct, leukocyte, lymphocyte, platelet and KSH, were performed for every sample coincidently with assessment of clinical disease activity by the Lahita scales, Results: We found that serum IL-8 levels in SLE patients were significantly higher than those of healthy controls. Serum IL-8 levels significantly correlated with clinical disease activity. Serum IL-8 levels correlated with CIC, but it had no correlation with other laboratory parameters. Conclusion: These findings suggest that serum IL-8 can be used as a marker of disease activity in patients with SLE. These results may have implication in the pathogenesis of SLE.