Serum Interleukin-38 in primary Sjögren’s Syndrome and its association with Disease Activity

Introduction: Interleukin-38 has been involved as an inflammatory mediator in rheumatic diseases. Little is known about the role of IL-38 in primary Sjögren’s syndrome development. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of IL-38 in primary Sjögren’s syndrome and its association with disease activity. Materials and Methods: Between 2019-2020, 40 patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome and 39 healthy participants were included in the study. Serum level of IL-38 was measured by ELISA in all participants. Serum levels of IL-38 were compared with clinical and laboratory features, and disease activity. Results: There was not a significant difference regarding serum IL-38 level between primary Sjögren’s syndrome patients and controls (58.0 pg/ml, min-max: 0-641.0 vs. 55.0 ng/ml, min-max: 0-338.0; p=0.511). Any significant correlations were not found between serum IL-38 level and SSDAI (r=-0.104, p=0.523). Conclusion: IL-38 may trigger the inflammatory process in primary Sjögren’s syndrome, but we couldn’t demonstrate any association of serum IL-38 level in primary Sjögren’s syndrome neither clinical findings nor disease activity.