Serum interleukin 1β in patients with acquired laryngotracheal stenosis

OBJECTIVES: To determine the serum levels of interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) in patients with acquired laryngotracheal stenosis (ALTS) and healthy volunteers and compare levels between serum and tissue of the stenotic segment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An exploratory cohort study included 20 participants with ALTS and 5 healthy volunteers. ALTS group was categorised into mild and severe according to grade of stenosis and presence of tracheostomy. Comparisons of serum levels of IL-1β between pre- and post-surgical intervention and between blood and tissue samples in the severe ALTS group were made. Correlation of IL-1β levels between blood and tissue was assessed using Spearman’s correlation. RESULTS: Severe ALTS patients showed higher serum levels of IL-1β compared to mild ALTS and healthy volunteers (p = 0.045). IL-1β was higher before surgical intervention than after surgical intervention (p = 0.003). There was a strong positive correlation of IL-1β between serum and tissue (r = 0.74, p = 0.035). CONCLUSION: Serum levels of IL-1β are higher in ALTS patients than in healthy controls and positively correlate with tissue levels. The decreasing trend of serum IL-1β observed following successful surgical intervention reflects the absence of ongoing inflammation at the stenotic segment.