Abstract:OBJECTIVE: To study the roles of serum and urinary interleukins (IL)-13Rα2, IL-4, IL-6, IL8 and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in pediatric Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP). METHODS: Serum and urinary levels of IL-13Rα2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α were examined using ELISA in 52 children with HSP and 45 healthy children. The results were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Serum levels of IL-13Rα2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α in HSP patients with or without renal lesions were higher than those in the control group (P< 0.01 or 0.05). Urinary levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in HSP patients without renal lesions were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). Except for urinary levels of IL-6 and TNF-α, urinary IL-13Rα2 levels in HSP patients with renal lesions (HSPN) were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05 ). CONCLUSIONS: Cytokines IL-13Rα2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α may play roles in the pathogenesis of pediatric HSP/HSPN.[Chin J Contemp Pediatr, 2009, 11 (1):37-40]