Table 2.
Concentrations of serum cytokines and NT-proBNP determined by radioimmunoassay or Elecsys NT-proBNP sandwich immunoassay (pg/mL).
| Variable | Control (n = 48) | CTD (n = 117) | CTD-aPAH | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total (n = 53) | Mild to moderate (n = 22) | Severe (n = 31) | |||
| IL-17a | 56.54 ± 13.95 | 65.47 ± 19.77∗ | 74.68 ± 25.28∗# | 66.50 ± 21.40 | 80.48 ± 26.52§ |
| IL-6 | 44.48 ± 15.45 | 86.05 ± 35.83∗ | 97.26 ± 39.34∗ | 88.00 ± 38.40 | 103.84 ± 39.28 |
| IFN-γ | 329.52 ± 72.73 | 1002.62 ± 273.61∗ | 1083.08 ± 275.64∗ | 1014.59 ± 283.02 | 1131.68 ± 264.09 |
| IL-2 | 349.73 ± 82.13 | 686.48 ± 183.92∗ | 719.53 ± 241.91∗ | 695.91 ± 231.51 | 736.29 ± 251.43 |
| TNF-α | 98.13 ± 25.42 | 329.65 ± 102.05∗ | 361.34 ± 118.41∗ | 318.05 ± 118.44 | 352.55 ± 121.98 |
| TGF-β | 126.29 ± 27.12 | 93.91 ± 21.50∗ | 71.17 ± 18.95∗# | 77.50 ± 18.65 | 66.68 ± 18.13§ |
| NT-pro BNP | 103.67 ± 41.96 | 215.94 ± 78.20∗ | 453.04 ± 149.50∗# | 402.91 ± 145.93 | 488.61 ± 143.81§ |
∗Compared with control group, P < 0.01; #compared with CTD group, P < 0.01; §compared with mild to moderate CTD-aPAH group, P < 0.01.