Changes in novel biomarkers of disease activity in juvenile and adult dermatomyositis are sensitive biomarkers of disease course
Arthritis & Rheumatism, 08/09/2012
Clinical Article
Reed AM et al. – The findings suggest that changes in type I IFN gene and chemokine scores as well as levels of IL–6, IL–8 and TNFα may serve as sensitive and responsive longitudinal biomarkers of change in disease activity in juvenile and adult dermatomyositis, even in the presence of immunosuppressant use.
Methods- Peripheral blood and clinical data were collected from 51 juvenile and adult DM subjects prospectively over 2 study visits.
- Disease activity measures, whole-blood type I IFN gene and chemokine score were collected.
- The authors also measured serum levels of other pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6.
- Changes in juvenile and adult DM global disease activity correlated positively and significantly with changes in the type I IFN gene score before (r=0.33, p=0.023) and IFN chemokine score before and after adjustment for medication use (r=0.53, p<0.001 and r=0.50, p=<0.001).
- Changes in muscle and extramuscular VAS subscales positively correlated with change in IFN gene and chemokine score (p=0.002).
- Serum levels of IL-6, IL-8 and TNFα were positively correlated with changes in global, muscle and extra-muscular VAS before and after adjustment for medications (p<0.05).
