Abstract
Aims: To investigate the circadian variation in IL-6 and effects of morning and night time glucocorticoids in polymyalgia rheumatica.
Methods: Cytokines were measured in newly diagnosed polymyalgia rheumatica over two 24-h periods, 2 weeks apart during which they received 7 mg/day of modified-release prednisone at night or morning prednisolone. All patients then received 15 mg/day morning prednisolone. Morning IL-6 concentrations were measured after 2 weeks. Morning stiffness, changes in peak IL-6 levels and area under the curve were compared.
Results: IL-6 followed a circadian rhythm with a peak at 04h00. Modified-release prednisone caused greater reduction of IL-6 and area under the curve.
Conclusion: IL-6 showed marked circadian variation. The possibility that modified-release prednisone offers a treatment advantage over standard therapy should be tested in a larger study.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 431-439 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | International Journal of Clinical Rheumatology |
| Volume | 9 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2014 |
Keywords
- chronobiology
- circadian variation cytokines
- glucocorticoids
- morning stiffness
- polymyalgia rheumatica
- treatment