Background: Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis and the most common metabolic disease in humans. It may result in tophi, kidney stones, or even kidney damage. It has become more common in recent decades due to increasing risk factors in the population, such as metabolic syndrome. Interleukin-33, the latest discovery in IL-1 cytokine family, acts as an early alerter of inflammation, it has been linked to several human pathologies including autoimmune diseases, sepsis, and allergy through its specific IL-1 receptor ST2 (suppression of tumorigenicity 2). However, there is little information regarding the role of IL-33 in gout.
Aim of the Work: Our study aimed to examine the clinical utility of IL-33 level in serum among gouty patients and correlating its concentration with renal affection.
Patients and Methods: Our case-control study was conducted on 90 subjects divided into three groups. Group I: included thirty gout patients, with no evidence of kidney affection, Group II: included thirty gout patients with kidney affection, their diagnosis based on the American College of Rheumatology classification criteria, Group III: thirty age and sex-matched, apparently healthy subjects included in the study as a control group. All individuals were subjected to detailed medical history, clinical examination including weight measurement and body mass index (BMI), and laboratory parameters including serum uric acid, creatinine, urea, lipid profile, and serum level of IL-33 measured by ELISA.
Results: Serum IL-33 was predominantly increased in gout patients (with or without kidney affection) compared to healthy controls and was even higher in patients without kidney injury compared to gout patients with kidney injury. IL-33 was positively correlated with serum HDL, BMI, although it was negatively correlated with LDL and cholesterol.
In Conclusion: IL-33 might have a protective role in kidney injury among gout patients.