Abstract | BACKGROUND: Recurrent aphthous ulcerations (RAU) are common oral inflammatory lesions. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that has effects on cellular and humoral immunities. Previous studies have shown that the high serum IL-6 levels in some RAU patients can be reduced by drug treatment. This finding suggests that IL-6 may be a useful marker in evaluating therapeutic effects of RAU. METHODS: RESULTS: We found that about 99% of the normal control subjects and the patients with EM, TU, or OSF had a serum IL-6 level within the normal limit of 5.0 pg/ml. However, 24% (48/197) RAU patients, 14% (1/7) EM patients, 43% (3/7) PV patients, and 100% (6/6) SS patients had a serum level of IL-6 greater than 5.0 pg/ml. The mean serum level of IL-6 in patients with RAU (3.6 +/- 3.5 pg/ml, P < 0.001), minor type RAU (2.7 +/- 2.0 pg/ml, P < 0.05), major type RAU (5.2 +/- 4.6 pg/ml, P < 0.001), or herpetiform type RAU (4.1 +/- 3.8 pg/ml, P < 0.01) was higher than that in normal control subjects. The mean serum level of IL-6 in major type (P < 0.001) or in herpetiform type RAU patients (P < 0.05) was higher than that in minor type RAU patients. The mean reduction of serum IL-6 level (10.0 +/- 7.1 pg/ml) in RAU patients after treatment with levamisole plus Chinese medicinal herbs was significantly higher than that (5.1 +/- 3.7 pg/ml) in RAU patients after treatment with levamisole only (P < 0.005), suggesting that the combination therapy is superior to the single therapy of levamisole only. CONCLUSION: We conclude that levamisole and levamisole plus Chinese medicinal herbs can modulate the serum IL-6 level in RAU patients. Although the therapeutic effect of RAU can be assessed by a decrease in the frequency, duration and number of the oral ulcerations, it can also be monitored by a reduction of serum IL-6 level in RAU patients.
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Authors | Andy Sun, Jean-San Chia, Yu-Fong Chang, Chun-Pin Chiang |
Journal | Journal of oral pathology & medicine : official publication of the International Association of Oral Pathologists and the American Academy of Oral Pathology
(J Oral Pathol Med)
Vol. 32
Issue 4
Pg. 206-14
(Apr 2003)
ISSN: 0904-2512 [Print] Denmark |
PMID | 12653859
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
- Adjuvants, Immunologic
- Biomarkers
- Drug Combinations
- Drugs, Chinese Herbal
- Interleukin-6
- Levamisole
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Topics |
- Adjuvants, Immunologic
(administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Aged
- Analysis of Variance
- Biomarkers
(blood)
- Child
- Child, Preschool
- Drug Combinations
- Drugs, Chinese Herbal
(administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
- Erythema Multiforme
(immunology)
- Female
- Follow-Up Studies
- Humans
- Interleukin-6
(blood)
- Levamisole
(administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Mouth Diseases
(immunology)
- Oral Submucous Fibrosis
(immunology)
- Oral Ulcer
(immunology)
- Pemphigus
(immunology)
- Recurrence
- Sjogren's Syndrome
(immunology)
- Stomatitis, Aphthous
(drug therapy, immunology)
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