Finally, we verified higher IL-6 value in the RA patients than healthy control group (p = 0.007) and an association between high IL-6 levels and increased CDAI (r = 0.4648, p = 0.0015); DAS 28 (r = 0.3933, p= 0.0091), presence of bone erosions (r = 0.3170, p = 0.0361), ESR levels(r = 0.3041, p = 0.0448) and IFN-γ levels (r = 0.3049, p = 0.0468).Altogether, we suggest that IL10 -1082 (T>C, rs1800896) and INFG -1616(A>G, rs2069705) polymorphisms as well as IL-6 levels alterations may play a role for prognostic and disease follow-up.
On univariate analysis, it was noted that male gender (p=0.03); presence of fissures (p=0.001), hemorrhagic crusts (p=0.003), erosions with angulated margins (p=0.024) linear erosions (p=0.001) and raised ESR (p=0.015) were found to be significantly associated with HSV infection.