Studying Cytokine Profile in Patients with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis During Biological Therapy

Application of biological preparations provides a possibility to decrease activity of inflammatory process аnd to achieve remission in patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), who previously did not respond to traditional baseline therapy. Aim of the investigation: to improve monitoring of biological therapy effectiveness in patients with severe JRA by studying main cytokines level in blood serum against adalimumab and tocilizumab therapy. In Western-Ukrainian specialized children’s medical centre 105 patients with JRA were under follow-up during four years, biological therapy was used in 23 of them. Analysis of cytokine dynamics in 1, 3, 6 months after biological therapy initiation shows decrease in IL-6, sCD25 and sTNF-αR1 levels. IP-10 level during biological therapy remained increased. We also detected increased serum TNF-α level. Preserved increase in IL-6 level in 6 months after biological therapy initiation indicated its ineffectiveness. Changes in serum IL-6 and soluble receptors to cytokines sTNF-R1 and sCD25 can be used for evaluating effectiveness of biological therapy with adalimumab and tocilizumab in patients with JRA.