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The Egyptian Journal of Bronchology
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Assessment of serum interleukin 6 level in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: is it related to disease severity?

Egyptian Journal of Bronchology volume 13, pages 575–579 (2019)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common disease that can be prevented and even treated. It leads to high morbidity and mortality rates. Pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative radicals were found to be implicated in COPD pathogenesis.

Objectives

To measure serum level of interleukin 6 (IL-6) in patients with stable COPD and also to detect the relationship of IL-6 levels with COPD severity.

Patients and methods

A total of 50 patients having stable COPD, in addition to 20 healthy control individuals, were included in the study. History taking and clinical examination, BMI calculation, spirometry (postbronchodilator spirometry in COPD group), and 6-min walk test were done for all patients. Measurement of serum level of IL-6 was done by using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

Serum level of IL-6 showed significantly higher concentrations among patients with COPD compared with healthy individuals [359.87±106.99 and 188.92±77.97 pg/ml, respectively; P<0.001]. An inverse nonsignificant correlation was found between serum level of IL-6 and 6-min walk test distance, forced expiratory volume in the 1 s, forced vital capacity, and maximum expiratory flow 25–75% predicted values. Mean IL-6 level was higher in the patients with severe and very severe COPD (371.75±103.12 pg/ml) compared with those with mild and moderate COPD (336.82±113.72 pg/ ml) (P=0.291).

Conclusion

Serum level of IL-6 showed significant higher concentrations in patients with COPD when compared with control ones, but IL-6 level did not show significant correlation with the disease severity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chest, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, P.O. Box 11562, 11562, Egypt

    Esmat A. Abd Elnaby, Samah S. Abd Elnaiem, Amira I. Mostafa MD & Mohamed K. Haswa

  2. Department of Biochemistry, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

    Dina Sabry

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

    Alshaimaa Rezk I R Alnaggar

Authors
  1. Esmat A. Abd Elnaby
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  2. Samah S. Abd Elnaiem
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  3. Amira I. Mostafa MD
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  4. Dina Sabry
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  5. Alshaimaa Rezk I R Alnaggar
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  6. Mohamed K. Haswa
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Amira I. Mostafa MD.

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Abd Elnaby, E.A., Abd Elnaiem, S.S., Mostafa, A.I. et al. Assessment of serum interleukin 6 level in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: is it related to disease severity?. Egypt J Bronchol 13, 575–579 (2019). https://doi.org/10.4103/ejb.ejb_50_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/ejb.ejb_50_19

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