Evaluation of serum and sputum level of IL-21 in Sardasht chemical victims and its relationship with long-term pulmonary complications (27 years after sulfur mustard exposure)

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.
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.
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.
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.