EVALUATION OF SERUM INTERLEUKIN-6 AS A BIOMARKER OF CHILDHOOD ASTHMA SEVERITY.

Background: Asthma is the most common chronic respiratory condition of childhood worldwide, with around 14% of children and young people are affected. Characteristic asthma features include wheeze, shortness of breath and cough, which are typically triggered by several possible stimuli. About 5-10% of patients with asthma suffer from poorly-controlled disease despite corticosteroid (CS) therapy. There is increased effort to identify biomarkers to define different phenotypes of asthma. IL-6 is known as an inflammatory cytokines and serum levels of IL-6 have been implicated as a biomarker for asthma especially in children. Aim of the study: To investigate the role of IL-6 as a potential biomarker for asthma severity in children. Methods: This study is a cross sectional study that carried out on 100 children (70 pediatric patients with bronchial asthma and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects) of the attendants to pediatric pulmonology clinic of Sayed Galal university hospital during the period from September 2022 to May 2023. Detailed history taking, thorough clinical examinations, Complete blood count (CBC), blood film and stool analysis, Serum interlukin-6 level using ELISA Technique was done to all patients and control groups. PRAM score and Pulmonary function tests were performed for all patients using Spirometry. Spirometry indices included FEV1, FVC, and FEV1/FVC. Results: IL-6 was significantly higher among patients compared with controls, respectively. A positive correlation was found between serum IL6 an asthma severity. IL-6 was normal in all control subjects and elevated in 8.5%, 28.5%, 31.5% and 100% of patients with intermittent, mild persistent, moderate persistent and severe persistent asthma respectively. Conclusion: IL-6 appears to be valuable for assessment of asthma severity in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]