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The value of interleukin-6 in predicting disease relapse for Takayasu arteritis during 2-year follow-up

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Abstract

Objective

To evaluate the value of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in predicting long-term disease prognosis for Takayasu arteritis (TA).

Methods

Sixty-seven TA patients, who had IL-6 levels detected at the first visit and had a regular follow-up of at least 2 years, were enrolled. Data recorded up to March 31, 2019, including clinical presentations, laboratory indices, treatments, and radiological images were collected and used for analysis. The value of IL-6 in predicting disease relapse and imaging progression was analyzed.

Results

IL-6 levels were positively related with disease activity index, including Kerr scores, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. Patients were divided into three groups according to baseline serum IL-6 levels: low group (< 5.4 pg/mL, n = 29), medium group (5.4–11.5 pg/mL, n = 20), and high group (> 11.5 ng/mL, n = 18). Patients in the medium and high group had higher disease activity than those in the low group (p < 0.01). Baseline IL-6 levels were correlated with luminal stenosis (p < 0.05), although no significant correlations with long-term imaging progression were observed. Patients with more than 2 episodes of disease relapses were most commonly seen in the medium group (p < 0.05). Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis indicated that medium and high IL-6 levels were positive predictors for disease relapse (HR 4.3, 95%CI 1.3–18.7 p = 0.07 for medium group; HR 2.1, 95% CI 0.7–48.9, p = 0.19 for high group) with disease status and treatment adjusted.

Conclusions

IL-6 may be a valuable predictor of TA disease relapse during long-term follow-up. Treatments targeted at IL-6 pathways might reduce disease relapse and have better prognostic effects for TA.

Key Points

• Positive relationships between IL-6 levels and disease activity index, including Kerr scores, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, etc. were indicated.

• Medium and high baseline IL-6 levels were valuable for predicting disease relapse during the 2-year follow-up.

• Baseline IL-6 levels were positively correlated with luminal stenosis on imaging.

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Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC 81601398, NSFC 81771730, and NSFC 81801598).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rheumatology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032, People’s Republic of China

    Ying Sun, Xiufang Kong, Xiaomeng Cui, Xiaomin Dai, Lili Ma, Huiyong Chen, Rongyi Chen, Qingrong Huang & Lindi Jiang

  2. Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China

    Peng Lv & Jiang Lin

  3. Department of Clinical Epidemiology Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China

    Xuejuan Jin

  4. Evidence-Based Medicine Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China

    Lili Ma, Xuejuan Jin & Lindi Jiang

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  1. Ying Sun
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Correspondence to Lindi Jiang.

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Sun, Y., Kong, X., Cui, X. et al. The value of interleukin-6 in predicting disease relapse for Takayasu arteritis during 2-year follow-up. Clin Rheumatol 39, 3417–3425 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-020-05066-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-020-05066-8

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