The correlations of serum interleukin-6 (il-6) levels and serum soluble il-6 receptor levels with disease activity in systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients with and without tocilizumab treatment

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R) have been demonstrated to play a significant role as inflammatory mediators in systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SJIA). Tocilizumab, a humanized anti-IL-6 receptor antibody, becomes a new biologic treatment for SJIA nowadays but the correlation of serum IL-6 levels and serum sIL-6R levels with disease activity in SJIA with and without tocilizumab treatment are still unclear.