Plasma interleukin-12 levels as a potential biomarker of fatigue and quality of life in patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia

Blood Res. 2025 Dec 4. doi: 10.1007/s44313-025-00112-3. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Fatigue significantly affects health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). However, the interplay between fatigue and cytokines in ITP remains poorly understood.

METHODS: This study included 100 patients with persistent or chronic ITP who had not received ITP-directed therapy in the previous 8 weeks and 50 age-matched healthy controls. Fatigue and HRQoL were assessed using the Functional Assessment of the Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) scale. Concurrently, plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, IL-17, and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) were measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTS: ITP patients had significantly lower total FACIT scores [median 146 (range 59-160]) and fatigue subscale scores [median 45 (range 9-52]) than controls [155 (149-159) and 49 (44-52), respectively; both p < 0.001]. IL-12 levels were significantly elevated in patients (313.2 vs. 95.5 pg/mL; p < 0.001) and showed a significant negative correlation with FACIT scores (Spearman’s ρ = -0.272, p = 0.007). Multivariate analysis revealed that female sex, longer disease duration among patients with chronic ITP (> 24 months), and elevated IL-12 levels were independently associated with greater fatigue and poorer HRQoL.

CONCLUSIONS: ITP is associated with significant fatigue and HRQoL impairment, with IL-12 emerging as a potential immunological marker linked to this symptom burden.

PMID:41339997 | DOI:10.1007/s44313-025-00112-3