Interleukin-6 in plaque psoriasis and its possible role in disease severity

Objective This study aimed to evaluate serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in plaque psoriasis individuals and to investigate its correlation with disease severity. Background Plaque psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory dermatological condition defined by immune dysregulation and excessive keratinocyte proliferation. IL-6 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine involved in the pathophysiological changes of several inflammatory illnesses, like psoriasis. Nonetheless, its function in illness severity remains ambiguous. Patients and methods A cross-sectional work had been performed on 50 participants, including 30 plaque psoriasis individuals and 20 sex- and age-matched healthy controls. Participants were recruited from Dermatology Outpatient Clinics at Tanta University Hospitals between November 2023 and October 2024. Disease severity was assessed using the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), categorizing patients into mild (PASI <5), moderate (PASI 5–10), and severe (PASI >10) groups. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was utilized in order to determine the levels of IL-6 in the serum. The Pearson correlation and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis had been conducted to determine the nature of the connection that exists between the levels of IL-6 and the severity of the disease. Results Serum IL-6 levels had been substantially elevated in psoriasis patients (10.84±4.06 pg/ml) compared with controls (3.78±0.65 pg/ml) ( P <0.001). IL-6 concentrations correlated with PASI scores ( r =0.532, P =0.002). Receiver operating characteristic analysis demonstrated IL-6 as a predictor of severe disease, with an area under the curve of 0.904. A cut-off of greater than 9.28 pg/ml predicted severe psoriasis with 71.43% sensitivity and 73.91% specificity. Conclusion Serum IL-6 have a substantial impact on the pathogenesis of psoriasis and correlates with disease severity. It may function as a prospective biomarker for disease evaluation.