Assessment of IL-6 Cytokine Level in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Associated with Anemia

The role of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in rheumatoid arthritis patients associated with anemia stilled unclear because of the limited researches. Therefore we evaluated the levels of IL-6 in rheumatoid arthritis patients associated with anemia.30 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ane­mia (23 males and 7 females), 30 patients with rheumatoid arthritis only (18 males and 12 females) and 30 healthy control groups (14 males and 16 females) were enrolled in our study, the levels of IL-6 cytokine were measured by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assays (ELISA), rheumatoid factor test (RF), Anti-CCP antibody test, Hematocrit %, Hb level g/dL for all cases also was assessed and statistical analysis of the data was then processed. The levels of IL-6 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and anemia was ranged between 78 and 122 pg/ml also the second group, patients with rheumatoid arthritis only was ranged between 20 and 59 pg/ml, and control free disease was ranged between 1 and 10 pg/ml. Also our results showed the statistical significance  between patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ane­mia and patients with rheumatoid arthritis only with (CI 95%)at (-43.355- -36.112), T-test (0.000),  patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ane­mia and  control free disease with (CI 95%)at (-100.364- -89.636), T-test (0.000) and patients with rheumatoid arthritis only and control free disease with (CI 95%)at (-62.241- -48.293), T-test (0.000) respectively. We concluded that IL-6 cytokine play important role in rheumatoid arthritis with anemia. Keywords: Rheumatoid arthritis, Anemia, IL-6