Knudsen LS et al. – Plasma IL-6 was the only biomarker related to treatment response and progressive erosive disease in patients with early RA, but it may not give additional information compared to CRP in relation to disease activity and treatment response. Methods
Aim was to determine plasma IL-6, VEGF, and serum (s)YKL-40 in pts with early RA and unclassified polyarthritis (PA), and investigate their relationship with radiographic outcome
pIL-6 and pVEGF were determined by ELISA and sYKL-40 by an in-house radioimmunoassay in 51 pts
Pts were followed with clinical and biochemical measurement every month for 2 yrs
Conventional radiographs of hands, wrists, and forefeet were scored
Bone erosions were evaluated by MRI
Results
Baseline pIL-6, pVEGF, sYKL-40, CRP, and ESR were elevated in RA pts vs healthy persons but were not in pts with PA
Pts with early RA had higher pIL-6, pVEGF, and sYKL-40 vs PA pts
pIL-6, sYKL-40, CRP, and ESR but not pVEGF decreased in pts that responded to treatment after 2 yrs
The mean value of pIL-6 during the first and second yr were higher in pts with early RA with progression in bone erosions vs early RA pts w/o progression
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