Evaluation of Serum Interleukin-8 Level in Sudanese Sickle Cell Disease Patients During Vaso-occlusive Crisis and the Steady State Conditions

Abstract

This case-control study was aimed to evaluate the IL-8 level in Sudanese sickle cell anemia patients during vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) and the steady state conditions and in control subjects in Khartoum state during the period from July to December (2018). 60 SCA patients were selected randomly, grouped into steady-state (n=30) and vaso-occlusion crisis (n=30) conditions. 28 of age and sex- matched control subjects were enrolled in this study. Venous blood sample (3ml) was collected in plain container from each subject. IL-8 concentration was measured using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) (Biolegend's ELISA MAXTM) in Institute of Endemic Diseases. The data was analyzed using SPSS programme (Version 16) using one way ANOVA test and independent T-test for testing difference significance, correlation test for finding correlation. The result showed that: means of IL-8 were 92.78±32.17, 148.45±165.72 and 90.48±24.94 in the steady state patients, VOC patients and control subjects respectively. IL-8 level was significantly elevated in VOC patients than the steady state group and control group (P. values were 0.033 and 0.029 respectively). There was no significant difference between IL-8 level in the steady state patients and controls (p. value 0.930). Hb level was significantly decreased in VOC group than the steady state group (P. value 0.000). Also there was no statistical correlation between IL-8 and age in the three groups (P. values 0.961 in steady state, 0.524 in VOC and 0.266 in controls). The difference in mean of IL-8 between males and females of the three groups was not statistically significant (P. values 0.116 in steady state, 0.37 in VOC, and 0.584 in controls). The study concluded that in the studied population, IL-8 concentration may be a useful VOC marker.