Interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 levels in children with aplastic anemia and its correlation with disease severity and response to immunosuppressive therapy

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 in patients with aplastic anemia and its correlation with severity of the disease.Materials and methods: IL-6 and IL-8 levels were measured in 40 patients with aplastic anemia in the age group of 4 to 14 years. A total of 40 healthy children served as controls. Quantitative estimation of IL-6 and IL-8 was performed using a solid-phase sandwich ELISA kit. Results were presented as IL-6 and IL-8 concentrations in pg/mL. Patients received immunosuppressive therapy per the British Committee for Standards in Haematology Guidelines 2009.Results: Mean age of the patients was 9.78 +/- 2.74 years. IL-6 level of patients was elevated compared with controls (193.48 +/- 352.3 vs. 4.58 +/- 3.39; P<0.001). IL-8 levels were also significantly elevated in patients compared with controls (15.58 +/- 18.0 vs. 1.85 +/- 0.95; P<0.001). IL levels were also assessed in relation to severity of the disease. Levels were the highest in patients with very severe aplastic anemia (724.33 +/- 519.42), followed by severe aplastic anemia (80.51 +/- 66.28 pg/mL), and non-severe aplastic anemia (6.01 +/- 1.89). Differences were statistically significant. A similar trend was also observed for IL-8 levels, where the levels were 41.02 +/- 24.23, 11.34 +/- 8.0, and 1.67 +/- 0.71 for very severe aplastic anemia, severe aplastic anemia, and non-severe aplastic anemia, respectively. The differences were again statistically significant. IL levels were also correlated with the treatment outcome. Responders had lower levels compared with nonresponders, but the difference was not statistically significant (186.36 +/- 322.45 vs. 198.74 +/- 368.10). Levels of ILs decreased in responders, but were not comparable with that of controls 6 months after therapy.Conclusions: High levels of IL-6 and IL-8 were observed in children with aplastic anemia. Increased levels showed correlation with disease severity and therefore appear to play an important role in aplastic anemia. However, levels had no significant correlation with the treatment outcome.