An Investigation of Some Immunological and Hematological Variables in Women with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Abstract Background: The autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can cause multisystemic tissue damage because of the interaction between the autoantibodies and self-antigens. The complement system has a role in the development of the disease activity after its activation by the immune complexes. In addition to the impairment in the function of T and B cells. Objectives: The current study aimed to determine some hematological and immunological factors that could be indicated to disease activity. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, venous blood from 54 SLE patients, who were referred to Medical City, Baghdad Teaching Hospital, and 46 healthy subjects were withdrawn from January 2022 to July 2022. The levels of blood parameters such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), white blood cells (WBC), and Hb were measured for the patients and controls. The levels of anti-dsDNA antibodies, C3, C4, IL-6, and IL-17a, were determined for patients and controls by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. Clinical diagnosis was made for all SLE patients according to the standards approved by the American College of Rheumatology, and the disease activity was determined by Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI). Information such as age, history of diagnosis of the disease, and family history were collected by using a questionnaire provided for this study. Results: The age range shows a high rate of SLE disease in the age group 25–34, 24 (44.44%). The inactive group of patients was the largest among all patient’s groups (28 51.85%). ESR rate and WBCs count were significantly higher in patients. Anti-dsDNA antibodies were significantly high, with an average of 4.84 U/mL in patients compared to healthy controls. C3 and C4 showed an obvious reduction in the sera of patients (111.57, 0.278, respectively) compared to healthy people (126.08, 0.0489, respectively). Anti-dsDNA antibodies appeared with high significant levels in the active group of patients compared to other groups. For cytokines results, IL-6 was significantly high in patients (70.62 ng/l), and the levels of IL-6 and IL-17a were differentiated significantly with disease activity. Conclusions: CD3, C4, and dsDNA could be the most efficient indicators for disease diagnosis. However, dsDNA, IL-6, and IL-17a are the best to indicate disease activity.