بررسی سطح سایتوکاین IL-21 در سرم و خلط مصدومین شیمیایی سردشت و ارتباط آن با عوارض دراز مدت ریوی ( 27 سال پس ازمواجهه با گاز خردل)

Background and Objectives: Pulmonary complications are one of the most important long-term sulfur mustard (SM) exposure that chemical victims are suffering for years. IL-21 is one of the important cytokines contributing in chronic pulmonary inflammatory diseases. In this study, the serum and sputum levels of IL-21 and their correlations with pulmonary complications was evaluated 27 years after sulfur mustard exposure.   Materials and Methods: Final sample size was 475 (350 men and 125 women) SM exposed and 150 (100 men and 50 women from Rabat) unexposed controls. The age span of volunteers was 27-67 years.   Results: There was no significant different between exposed and control groups in serum and sputum levels of IL-21, but the serum level of IL-21 showed a significant correlation with spirometry parameter (FEV1/FVC) in SM exposed group was observed.   Conclusion: The affected serum and sputum levels of IL-21 by sulfur mustard exposure were not variable, but there was a significant negative correlation between serum level of IL-21and FEV1/FVC in SM exposed group.