Serum IL-21 level in patients with pemphigus: Before and after treatment

Interleukin-21 (IL-21) is believed to play a pathogenic role in the development of pemphigus. Our aim was to assess serum IL-21 levels in pemphigus patients before and after treatment. Twenty patients with pemphigus (pemphigus group) and 10 healthy controls (control group) were enrolled. Patients were assessed clinically using the Pemphigus Disease Area Index (PDAI) at presentation and 2 months after treatment. Serum samples were collected to measure serum IL-21 levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), at presentation and after 2 months of treatment. The mean age of the participants was 41.9 ± 13.5 years (7 men and 13 women). The PDAI score at presentation was 37.35 ± 14.206, which decreased significantly after treatment to 11.70 ± 6.729 (P-value <.001). On the other hand, serum IL-21 levels increased after treatment (589.03 ± 131.86 ng/L at first presentation vs 627.10 ± 304.05 ng/L after treatment: P-value .444). No significant correlation was found between the PDAI severity scores and serum IL-21 levels at the first presentation or 2 months after treatment.