Relationship Between Interleukin 6 (IL-6) and Organ Damage Based on SLICCDamage Index -SDI Score in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients

Abstract

Background: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a heterogeneous
and complex chronic autoimmune disease. Interleukin 6 (IL-6) is a
cytokine known to be elevated in people with SLE. This research was
conducted to determine the relationship between IL-6 levels and organ
damage based on the SLICC Damage Index-SDI Score in SLE patients.
Method: The study was a retrospective cross-sectional study involving
67 SLE patients conducted based on the SLICC 2012/ACR EULAR
2019 criteria at least 6 months prior to their inclusion. They were
patients treated at the Rheumatology Clinic of  Adam Malik General
Hospital in Medan from June to August 2023, who met the inclusion
and exclusion criteria. Organ damage assessment was done using the
SLICC Damage Index (SDI) score, while disease activity degree was
measured using the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI-2K) scoring
system. Results: 94 % subject were women with a median SLEDAI-2K
score of 6 (10 – 16) where the moderate degree of activity was the
majority in this study (41.8%), followed by the mild degree (37.3%),
severe (16, 4%), and remission (4.5%). The median IL-6 level was
63.3932 pg/ml (8.88 – 5966.67) where a significant correlation was
found between IL-6 levels and the SDI score (p=0.017) and the degree
of disease activity and the SDI score (P<0.001). Conclusion: A
significant positive correlation was found between IL-6 levels and SDI
scores in SLE patients (p=0.017).