THU0314 Plasma IL-6 Levels Correlate with Ultrasound Measures of Disease Activity in Lupus Arthritis. (23rd January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ball, E.; Bell, A.; Rooney, M.
• Is Part Of: Annals of the rheumatic diseases. Volume 72:Supplement 3(2013)
• Page Start: A272
• Page End: A272
• Publication Date: 2014-01-23
• Subjects: Rheumatism -- Periodicals; 616.723005
• DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-eular.842
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-4967

Abstract

Abstract : Background: The role of specific cytokines in lupus arthritis has not been elucidated 1 . This is in stark contrast to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) where an abundance of research has culminated in an advancing era of novel biologic drugs. Objectives: To analyse the cytokine profile in SLE patients with erosive, non-erosive arthritis and arthralgia as classified by ultrasound (US). Methods: 50 SLE patients, and 40 RA patients had an US scan of their hand as per standardised protocols 2 -3 . US scores per patient were expressed per joint and as a total ' ultrasound activity' score, (sum of Power Doppler (PD) and Grey Scale Synovial Hypertrophy scores in all joints) and a total erosion score. SLE disease activity was assessed (BILAG and SELENA SLEDAI). Plasma levels of IL-6, TNF-alpha and BLyS were measured using sandwich ELISA kits (Quantikine® kits, R & D). Results: On the basis of the ultrasound results the SLE patients were divided into three groups, those with erosive arthritis (n = 24), those with non-erosive arthritis (n = 14) and those with a normal ultrasound scan (n = 12). CRP and IL-6 levels between the erosive lupus group and the RA group were not significantly different (p = 0.3 and p = 0.2 respectively). Conclusions: This is the first study to examine levels of specific cytokines in a cohort of SLE patients stratified in terms of joint disease by ultrasound where the most significant finding is that IL-6 levels correlated with both clinical and ultrasound measures of arthritis disease activity. There is preliminary evidence that IL-6 blockade may be a potential treatment for SLE 4 and if arthritis specific outcome measures were included in future clinical trials more robust evidence could be generated. References: Jacob N & Stohl W. Cytokine disturbances in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Arthritis Research & Therapy 2011; 13 (4): 244 Wakefield RJ et al. Musculoskeletal ultrasound including definitions for ultrasonographic pathology. J Rheum 2005;32(12):2485-87. Szkudlarek M et al. Interobserver agreement in ultrasonography of the finger and toe joints in rheumatoid arthritis. A & R 2003;48(4):955-62. Illei G et al. Tocilizumab in systemic lupus erythematosus: data on safety...... A & R 2010;62(2):542-52. Disclosure of Interest: None Declared