The polymorphism of the IL-6 gene promoter at position -174, which appears to influence the production of this cytokine, has been associated with susceptibility to some rheumatic diseases.
The aim of this observational, prospective, pilot study was to investigate whether salivary concentrations of CRP and IL-6 correlate with those in serum and with the clinical course of a rheumatic disease.
In psoriatic arthritis, serum IL-6 levels at the endpoint tended to be lower in patients who achieved DAS28-CRP <2.3 (European League Against Rheumatism remission criteria) than in patients who did not.