Item

(pg/ml)

Control

n = 20

Methotrexate
n = 63

Leflunomide n = 31

IL-1-ser

1,65 ± 0,03

BT  0,69 ±0,16*
AT  1,77 ± 0,73

BT  1,40 ± 0,14
AT  1,03 ± 0,13

IL-6-ser

2,47 ± 0,03

BT  80,59 ± 35,17
AT  53,96 ± 27,17

BT  56,60 ± 12,54*
AT  31,11 ± 3,66*

IL-10-ser

0,21 ± 0,02

BT  0,25 ± 0,17
AT  0,31 ± 0,24

BT  4,81 ± 0,13*
AT  1,10 ± 0,02*◊

TNF-ser

2,17 ± 0,07

BT  3,40 ± 1,47
AT  31,94 ± 8,37*◊

BT  5,34 ± 1,12
AT  6,42 ± 1,54

IL-1-sin

1,95 ± 0,91

BT  11,12 ± 3,36
AT  0,65 ± 0,12 ◊

BT  12,55 ± 2,87*
AT  4,77 ± 1,38 ◊

IL-6-sin

3,48 ± 1,12

BT  1446,76±124,84*
AT  1820,34 ±23,65*

BT  1670,54 ± 89,44*
AT  1856,49 ± 76,88*

IL-10-sin

1,11 ± 1,02

BT  7,68 ± 1,43
AT  43,80 ± 2,62*◊

BT  14,87 ± 1,55*
AT  64,33 ± 1,81*◊

TNF-sin

4,12 ± 2,03

BT  164,51 ± 18,45*
AT  25,50 ± 3,76*◊

BT  170,45 ± 12,77*
AT  22,87 ± 2,02*◊

Note: n — number of patients in each group. * — differences from the control were significant at р<0.05. ◊ — differences between the groups were significant at р<0.05. BT – before treatment. AT – after treatment
Table 3: Cytokine profile in rheumatoid arthritis patients before and after methotrexate and leflunomide therapy (mean ± SEM).