Abstract

Objective: To evaluate serum levels of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) in patients with brucellosis before and after treatment. Methods: In this cross-sectional study 30 patients (18 males and 12 females) were studied. Serum levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 were measured before and after treatment by ELISA. Inclusion criteria were 2-mercaptoethanol ≥ 1/40 and Wright ≥ 1/80. Results: The mean age of patients was (37.20 ± 16.15) years. Patients with the positive history of non-pasteurized dairy consumption and contact with animals were 25 (83.3%) and 19 patients (63.3%), respectively. The average serum levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 before treatment were (1 109.34 ± 322.51) pg/mL and (385.15 ± 115.68) pg/mL and after treatment were (253.00 ± 132.45) pg/mL and (228.01 ± 71.17) pg/mL, respectively (P < 0.001). Increased levels only observed in the case of IFN-γ before treatment (60%). Decrement of IL-4 level was significantly higher in patients with a history of contact with livestock. There was no significant correlation between these two parameters and age, sex, and dairy consumption. Conclusions: Based on the findings of this study, IFN-γ and IL-4 serum levels significantly reduced after treatment. A significant reduction in the level of serum IL-4 after treatment seem to rise the importance of the individuals’ sensitizing history due to previous contact.

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