Increased Serum Interleukin 10 Levels Are Associated with Increased Disease Activity and Increased Risk of Anti-SS-A/Ro Antibody Positivity in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Unlabelled: Interleukin 10 (IL-10) plays a role in inflammation and cell-type responses. The anti-SS-A/Ro antibody contributes to leucopenia, and cutaneous and neonatal lupus.

Objectives: To evaluate the association between serum IL-10 levels and autoantibodies, disease activity and organ involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients.

Patients And Methods: We studied 200 SLE patients and 50 controls. We analyzed organ involvement, disease activity, serum IL-10 and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels, and antinuclear and antiphospholipid antibody profiles.

Results: Serum IL-10 and IL-6 levels were higher in SLE patients than in controls (all < 0.00001). Serum IL-10 levels were positively correlated with IL-6 ( < 0.00001), CRP ( < 0.00001), fibrinogen ( = 0.003), and ESR ( < 0.00001), and negatively correlated with hemoglobin ( = 0.0004) and lymphocytes ( = 0.01). Serum IL-6 levels were positively correlated with CRP ( < 0.00001), fibrinogen ( = 0.001), and ESR ( < 0.00001); and negatively correlated with hemoglobin ( = 0.008) and lymphocytes ( = 0.03). Elevated serum IL-10 levels were associated with an increased risk of anti-SS-A/Ro antibody positivity ( = 0.03). Elevated serum IL-6 levels were associated with an increased risk of heart ( = 0.007) and lung ( = 0.04) involvement.

Conclusions: In SLE patients, increased serum IL-10 levels were associated with increased disease activity and risk of anti-SS-A/Ro antibody positivity.