Assessment of interleukin 6 (IL-6) as a marker of inflammation among adult patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in Zaria, Nigeria

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Complications of the disease are associated with the host’s inflammatory response. The study aimed to determine the plasma level of interleukin-6 as a biomarker of inflammation among adult patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in Zaria. Method This was a cross-sectional study. Blood samples were taken from 30 treatment-naïve (TN), 30 treatment-experienced (TE), and 30 healthy controls (HC). Results The means and standard deviations of interleukin-6 plasma levels for tuberculosis treatment naive, treatment experience and apparently healthy control are 64.4 ± 19.4, 57.9 ± 21.4, and 49.9 ± 7.7 pg/L, respectively. This study found upregulated plasma levels of interleukin-6 among treatment naive compared to treatment experience but the statistically not significant and significantly upregulated level of interleukin 6 among treatment naïve compared to apparently healthy control ( p = 0.006). There was a downregulated level of interleukin-6 among HC compared to TN and TE but statistically not significant. Conclusion The role of interleukin-6 as a surrogate biomarker for the management of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis is promising but requires further study.