Correlation between serum IL-10 and clinical value in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Objective To investigate the correlation between IL-10 and disease activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE).Methods According to the SLE disease activity index(SLEDAI),22 SLE patients divided into two groups:activity phase group(n=12)and inactivity phase group(n=10),24 healthy subjects as control.Serum IL-10 in patients and control group was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.The correlation of serum IL-10 with SLEDAI,anti-double strain DNA(dsDNA)antibody,C reactive protein(CRP),50%complement hemolytic activity(CH50)was analyzed.Results Compared with the control group[(18.11±6.97)ng/L],serum IL-10 level was significantly higher in SLE patients,no matter in activity phase[(78.54±5.62)ng/L,P＜0.01]or inactivity phase[(30.36±10.98)ng/L,P＜0.05],and significant difference was also observed between activity and inactivity phase(P＜0.05).Significant correlations between serum IL-10 concentration and SLEDAI(activity phase group,r=0.77,P＜0.01;inactivrty phase grap,r=0.84,P＜0.01),serum anti-dsDNA antibody(r=0.71,P＜0.01),CRP(r=0.63,P＜0.01),CH50(r=-0.56,P＜0.05)were found.Conclusion Serum IL-10concentration is increased in SLE patients and correlates with SLE disease activity.Detection of serum IL-10 levels seemed to be a useful index for monitoring disease activity in SLE patients. Key words: Lupus erythematosus, systemic;  Interleukin-10;  SLE disease activity index