IL-6 levels are associated with clinical status in patients with Myasthenia Gravis

Abstract

Background: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease marked by fluctuating course of muscle weakness. Objectives: The current study was designed to evaluate plasma levels of cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, TNF, IFN-γ, and IL17A) in patients with MG and controls and to investigate whether cytokines levels are associated with clinical parameters. This study was conducted at the Neuromuscular Diseases Outpatient Clinic, Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Brazil. Methods: Peripheral blood was drawn, and plasma levels of cytokines were measured by cytometric bead array (CBA) in 80 treated patients with MG and 50 controls. The MG Composite (MGC) was used to evaluate muscle weakness and severity of typical motor symptoms of MG. Results: Patients with MG undergoing treatment exhibit lower levels of all evaluated cytokines compared to controls. There was a negative correlation between IL-6 levels and the MG Composite score, indicating that higher levels of IL-6 were associated with better control of the disease. Conclusion: This exploratory study suggests that IL-6 is associated with MG clinical status, as assessed by the MGC