Prognostic and Diagnostic Utility of Interleukin-6 in Pediatric Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension - A case control study

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in pediatrics is a progressive disease with significant vascular remodeling, right sided heart failure, and death if left untreated . Elevated interleukin-6 (IL-6) level in PAH patients is taken as an independent predictor of adverse outcome including mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare serum levels of IL-6 in children with PAH and healthy matched controls, and correlate between between IL-6 and degree of PAH, as well as mortality. Method: IL-6 was measured by ELISA in serum samples in 40 children with PAH (age 1-12 years) and 40 age and sex matched healthy controls. Results: : There was statistically significant increase in IL-6 level among PAH cases compared with the controls (1.85 ng/L vs 1.30 ng/L, p-value =0.004). IL-6 at cut off point 1.45ng/L significantly predict pulmonary hypertension in children, (AUC=0.685, 75% sensitivity, and 65% specificity with p=0.002). There was no statistically significant association between IL-6 level and degree of PAH (p=0.218). There was no statistically significant association between IL-6 level and mortality (p=0.662). Conclusion: IL-6 significantly predict PAH in pediatrics but there is no association between IL-6 level and degree of PAH or mortality. IL-6 may provide a less costly, and less invasive method for disease detection.