The characteristics of the levels of serum free light chain and cytokines levels in primary Sj(o)gren's syndrome with amyloidosis and their changes after cyclophosphamide treatment / 中华风湿病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the characteristics of the serum free light chain ( sFLC ) and cytokines levels and the effects of cyclophosphamide (CTX) on patients with primary Sj(0)gren's syndrome (pSS) complicated with amyloidosis.Methods Nine patients of pSS with amyloidosis who were admitted to Department of Rheumatology of the hospital from Jan 2005 to Mar 2011 were selected.The serum levels of sFLC and cytokines TNF-α,TGF-β1,IL-4 were measured before and 3,6,12 months after the treatment respectively.Meanwhile,Twelve patients with pSS without complications were selected as controls.Repeated measures analysis of variance was used for data analysis.Results The sFLC in serum of pSS patients with amyloidosis was λ type,the κ type was not found.The level of serum sFLC after 12 months treatment [(22±42) mg/L]was significantly lower than before treatment [(180±15) mg/L].The levels of TNF-α,TGF-β1,IL-4 after 12months treatment [(24.0±1A),(58±5),(38.8±3.2) ng/L,respectively] were significantly lower than before treatment [(31.1±L0),(65±5),(61.2±3.8) ng/L,respectively].Conclusion The levels of serum sFLC and eytokines are abnormally increased in patients of pSS with amyloidosis.After treatment,the levels of cytokines are decreased initially which indicates that these cytokines may play a key role in the pathogenesis of pSS.CTX therapy may lead to better efficacy and more favorable prognosis.