FIG 5.

Association of inflammatory cytokine and tissue damage markers in patients with αEp9 Abs. (A) Association between the inflammatory cytokine IL-6 and the tissue damage marker aspartate transaminase (AST) shows a sigmoidal curve fit for patients with αEp9 Abs, R² = 0.9683, Spearman’s correlation coefficient = 1.0, P < 0.0001. (B) Schematic of patients with αEp9 Abs with increasing IL-6 levels leading to poor outcomes. We hypothesize that patients with αEp9 Abs could benefit from IL-6 inhibition early in the disease, such as monoclonal antibody drugs targeting IL-6 or its receptor (IL6R), to disrupt a cytokine storm and reduce severe outcomes.