Peculiar features of immunoinflammatory syndrome in patients with ulcerous colitis, depending on severity of disease attack

Abstract

Aim. To study the blood serum interleukin-6 (IL) and circulating immune complexes (CIC) levels in patients with ulcerous colitis (UC), depending on the severity of disease attack, colonic inflammation dissemination, and presence of abenteric manifestations.
 Materials and methods. One hundred patients with UC in the phase of active inflammation were examined. Blood serum IL-6 and CIC concentrations were studied with IFA method.
 Results. 88,5 % of UC patients in the phase of active inflammation showed an elevated mean IL-6 index, 80 % had increased CIC concentration as compared with normal values. The highest IL-6 and CIC levels were obtained in case of severe forms of disease (11,50 (7,30–23,65) pg/ml and 115,50 (105,00–118,00), respectively); CIC and IL-6 levels were significantly higher in patients with abenteric manifestations and frequently relapsing course in comparison with patients, having rare UC relapses (p < 0,005). Strong direct correlations of IL-6 and CIC with each other (r = 0,65; p = 0,001) as well as with the severity of pathological changes in the colon were established.
 Conclusions. Among patients with UC, significantly elevated blood serum IL-6 and CIC concentrations were determined. Patients with severe attack of disease as well as those with abenteric manifestations and frequent relapses demonstrated reliably higher levels of these indices. It is recommended to use determination of blood serum IL-6 and CIC levels as an available and informative method, permitting to estimate the degree of severity of inflammatory process in the colonic wall among patients with ulcerous colitis.