Combined effect of reduced glutathione and ulinastatin on the expressions of IL-6, sIL-6 and sgp130 in peripheral blood of paraquat-poisoned patients

Purpose: To investigate the effect of reduced glutathione and ulinastatin on the expressions of interleukin-6 (IL-6), soluble interleukin-6 receptor (sIL-6R), and soluble glycoprotein 130 (sgp130) in peripheral blood of paraquat-poisoned patients. Methods: In this retrospective study, 88 patients with paraquat poisoning admitted to Dongying People's Hospital, Dongying, China from February 2017 to October 2020 were divided into control group (n = 40) and study group (n = 48), based on treatment type. The control group received conventional treatments, while the study group was given reduced glutathione in combination with ulinastatin. Treatment efficacy and peripheral blood expression levels were compared. Results: Compared to the control group, curative effect was significantly higher in the study group (p < 0.05). The expression levels of IL-6, sIL-6R, and sgp130 in the peripheral blood at the early, middle and late periods in the study group were markedly lower. The number of patients with flake-like or dotted opacity, increased lung texture, pleural effusion and ground glass opacity in the study group during the early period was lower (p < 0.05). Moreover, the number of patients with pulmonary edema, fibrous cord, pleural effusion, ground glass opacity and reticular opacity during the middle period was markedly lower for the study group, while the population of patients with honeycomb lung, fibrous cord, nodules and reticular opacity in the study group was higher t (p < 0.05). Conclusion: A combination of reduced glutathione and ulinastatin produces significant therapeutic effect on paraquat poisoning by down-regulating the serum expressions of IL-6, sIL-6 and sgp130, inhibiting inflammation, and mitigating pulmonary lesions.