| dc.description.abstract | Introduction: Erythema Nodusum Leprosum (ENL) is an immune complex syndrome that causes inflammation of the skin, nerves and other organs as well as malaise. It has been reported that there is an increase in mRNA encoding interleukin-6 (IL-6) in ENL, but the exact relationship is still unclear.
Objective: to analyze the correlation between serum IL-6 levels and the severity of the ENLIST ENL Severity Scale (EESS) in ENL.
Subjects and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted on all leprosy patients with ENL who sought treatment at the Dermatology and Venereology Polyclinic, North Sumatra University Hospital, RSUD dr. Pirngadi, and H. Adam Malik Hospital Medan. ENL patients who were uncooperative, with infectious, autoimmune, malignant diseases, or who were pregnant or breastfeeding were excluded. Data processing was carried out with the help of statistical software with a significance value <0.05.
Results: A total of 40 ENL patients were studied. The average age of patients was 33.10 ± 12.23 years, male (70%), high school (75%), and unemployed (95%). The degree of severity based on EESS, mild was more dominant than severe, namely 57.5% vs 42.5%, respectively. The median IL6 level was 64.65±34.06 in ENL patients and was higher in severe compared with mild EESS, namely 105.18±24.14 versus 50.08±16.84, respectively (p=0.103, p=0.167, respectively). There was a very strong and significant positive correlation between serum IL6 levels and EESS (r:0.813 and p<0.05).
Conclusion: There is a correlation between serum IL6 levels and EESS. Further research is needed in measuring serum IL6 levels to detect early severity of ENL. | en_US |
