%0 Journal Article %T Interleukin 6 and Bone Erosions in Rheumatoid Arthritis in an African Hospital %A Paul Eloundou %A Aly Kamissoko %A Fernando Kempta %A Francine Same Bebey %A William Beko’o %A Ange Ngeuleu %A William Nguekouo %A Estelle Megne %A Suzy Manizou %A Madeleine Singwe %J Open Journal of Rheumatology and Autoimmune Diseases %P 13-19 %@ 2164-005X %D 2024 %I Scientific Research Publishing %R 10.4236/ojra.2024.141002 %X Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, erosive and deforming inflammatory rheumatic disease. In the era of biotherapies and the arrival of biosimilars in sub-Saharan Africa, the objective of this study was to describe plasma IL-6 variations in RA patients at Cité Verte District Hospital (Cameroon). Material and Methods: Descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study from December 1, 2021 to May 31, 2022. We included patients over 18 years old suffering from RA (ACR/EULAR 2010). Patients with an infection were not included. The data collected were age, sex, smoking status, family history, disease duration, disease activity by DAS28, CRP, rheumatoid factor, and plasma level of IL-6. Bone erosion was sought on radiography and ultrasound. Result: We included 31 patients, 25 of whom were women (80.6%). The mean age was 47.27 ± 17.97 years. Disease activity was predominantly moderate (32.3%) and severe (32.3%). Mean IL-6 level was 15.29 ± 2.36 pg/ml (extremes: 11.26 pg/ml and 20.15 pg/ml). IL-6 levels were higher in patients with a history of smoking. Similarly, IL-6 levels were higher in patients with mildly active RA in remission than in moderately and severely active RA. Mean IL-6 levels were significantly higher in patients with erosive RA (16.3 pg/ml VS 14.6 pg/ml). Conclusion: IL-6 levels were significantly elevated in men, weaned smokers and patients with bone erosions. %K Rheumatoid Arthritis %K Interleukin 6 %K Bone Erosion-DAS28 %K Sub-Saharan Africa %U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=131032