Serum Level of Interleukin-17 in Patients with Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis

Abstract

Background: Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is an inflammatory nature, while interleukin 17 (IL-17) has a pre-inflammatory role. In the present study, serum level of IL-17 was measured in a group of individuals with RAS, compared to healthy individuals.

Methods: This case-control study was done on 36 patients with RAS as cases and 36 healthy subjects as controls. The level of IL-17 was measured, using ELISA method.

Results: The mean serum level of IL-17 in cases was 0.14±0.21 pg/ml, which was insignificantly lower than 0.21±0.17 pg/ml in control group (p=0.12). Meanwhile there was a significant reverse correlation between age and serum level of IL-17 (r=-0.32, p=0.006).

Conclusion: Although the serum level of IL-17 in RAS patients was lower than the controls, the difference was not significant. However, significantly lower serum level of IL-17 in older subjects.