RESUMEN
AIM: To study the associations of the concentration of interleukins (IL) 1beta, 6, 8, 10, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), tumor necrosis factor-alpha, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the serum and urine with the clinical features of scleroderma systematica (SDS). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The investigation enrolled 51 patients with a valid SDS diagnosis. The serum and urinary concentrations of interleukins, TNF-alpha, MCP-1, and VEGF were measured by solid-phase enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS: The patients with SDS were found to have higher serum and urine concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines and VEGF than in the comparison group. There were relationships between the levels of VEGF and proinflammatory cytokines and the disease duration, clinical forms, and clinical manifestation of SDS. CONCLUSION: Higher serum VEGF levels in patients with SDS may be used to estimate the magnitude of endothelial dysfunction. Estimation of serum IL-6 concentrations may be employed to determine the degree of sclerosis progression; that of MCP1 for the activity of fibrosing alveolitis. Quantitative analysis of urinary IL-6, IL-8, and VEGF levels in patients with SDS may be used to evaluate tubulointerstitial inflammation and to predict the development of interstitial fibrosis.
