Regulatory Effect of Iguratimod on the Balance of Th Subsets and Inhibition of Inflammatory Cytokines in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Figure 3

Changes of cytokines in serum of RA patients before and after therapy. Concentration (pg/mL) of (a) IFN-γ, (b) IL-18, (c) IL-6, (d) IL-4, (e) TNF-α, (f) IL-17A, (g) IL-10, (h) IL-21, and (i) CXCL13. Mean concentrations of cytokines in serum of patients in our study were quantified by ELISA, and , , and are statistically significant compared to 24 w. , , and are statistically significant compared to 0 w. Group A: iguratimod was administered to patients for 52 weeks. Group B: placebo was administered to patients for the first 24 weeks and iguratimod was administered to patients for the subsequent 28 weeks.

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