Cytokines and adhesion molecules in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica

• Published in: British journal of rheumatology Vol. 37; no. 7; pp. 766 - 769
• Main Authors: Uddhammar, A, Sundqvist, K G, Ellis, B, Rantapää-Dahlqvist, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Oxford Publishing Limited (England) 01.07.1998
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - therapeutic use; Blood Sedimentation; C-Reactive Protein - analysis; Cell Adhesion Molecules - blood; Cytokines - antagonists & inhibitors; Cytokines - blood; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Polymyalgia Rheumatica - blood; Polymyalgia Rheumatica - drug therapy; Prednisolone - therapeutic use; Receptors, Interleukin - blood; von Willebrand Factor - analysis
• ISSN: 0263-7103; 1462-0324; 1462-0332
• DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/37.7.766

Serum levels of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), IL-6, soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and soluble E-selectin were measured in 15 patients with newly diagnosed polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) before and after 3 months of corticosteroid therapy. Both IL-6 and IL-1ra were significantly increased in untreated PMR and remained elevated compared with controls during therapy, although significantly only for sIL-1ra. sICAM-1 was raised in 12/15 (87%) patients at diagnosis and remained high in 10/14 (71%) patients; soluble E-selectin levels were initially raised in 6/15 (40%) patients and decreased with therapy in those with the highest levels. IL-6, IL-1ra and sICAM-1 are sensitive indicators of continuing immunological activation in PMR; the advantages of these markers in assessing the response to therapy should be investigated in a longitudinal study.