role of serum level of interleukin-6 in severity of pulmonary complications of sulfur mustard injuries

ABSTRACT

Diverse studies suggest that interleukin-6 [IL6], as a member of cytokines family, has a major role in inflammatory processes of airways and lungs. In this study, an attempt was made to determine the serum level of IL6 in sulfur mustard [SM] injured patients and its comparison with controls. The measured IL6 mean level in patients with chemical injuries [0.76 +/- 0.3 ng/ml] was significantly higher than the control group's mean level [0.34 +/- 0.12 ng/ml]. Furthermore, patients with moderate to severe symptoms had a serum level of [0.95 +/- 0.92 ng/ml] which was significantly higher than mild [0.47 +/- 0.54] and control [0.34 +/- 0.12] groups. The outcome of this research program demonstrates that an increase in serum level of IL6 can have a role in pulmonary complications of SM, similar to other well defined pulmonary diseases. However, further studies are required to clarify the role and mechanism of IL6 in such patients