Abstract: Objective To investigate the significance of interleukin-35 (IL-35) level in patients with acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN) and explore the correlation of the serum IL-35 level with disease severity and prognosis. Methods The GBS disability score (GDS) was used to assess the disease severity at 2 weeks after admission in 30 patients with AMAN (group AMAN). Erasmus GBS outcome score (EGOS) was used to evaluate the prognosis of patients in 6 months. Thirty healthy volunteers was used as control group (group HCs). Serum concentration levels of IL-35 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The correlation of the serum level of IL-35 with disease severity and prognosis in AMAN patients was analyzed. According to the standard of IL-35 detection, AMAN patients were subdivided into low secretory group (＜0.13 μg/L) and secretory group (≥0.13 μg/L), and GDS and EGOS levels were compared between the two groups. Results The serum level of IL-35 was significantly lower in group AMAN than that in group HCs. The serum level of IL-35 was negatively correlated with GDS and EGOS (rs=-0.430 and -0.523, P＜0.05). Values of GDS and EGOS were higher in low secretory group than those in the secretory group. Conclusion The serum level of IL-35 may participate in the pathogenic process of AMAN. As a protective cytokine, the serum level of IL-35 can be used as an important biomarker for the severity and outcomes of AMAN.

Key words: Guillain-Barre syndrome, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, interleukin-35, GBS disability score, erasmus GBS outcome score, acute motor axonal neuropathy