Title: The changes of cytokine levels are involved chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment in non- Hodgkin’s lymphoma Patients
Abstract: Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was investigating the correlation between cytokine levels and chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment in non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) patients. Methods A total of 30 patients with NHL were included in this study. These patients completed cognitive assessment and cytokine levels which including IL-4 and IL-6 before chemotherapy and after 2 courses of chemotherapy. Results The subjects' IL-4 was higher before treatment than after treatment (t = 2.85, P < 0.01) and IL-6 was lower before treatment than after treatment (Z= -3.17, P < 0.01). IL-6 has a weak correlation between RM and PM (r = 0.282 and 0.270, respectively, all P < 0.05). There was a moderate correlation between IL-6 and ECog-12 (r = 0.314, P < 0.05), but no statistical association was found between cognition and IL-4. There was a moderate correlation between subjects' cognition (MMSE, VFT, SDMT, CDT, RM) and KPS (r = 0.479,0.378, 0.464, 0.396 and − 0.366, respectively, all P < 0.01). Conclusion The cognitive function of NHL patients is impaired in a short time after chemotherapy, which is manifested in visuospatial disturbance, language and memory. IL-4 may be a protective factor of cognitive function, and IL-6 may be a factor of impairment of cognitive function. Management and improvement of cognitive function in NHL will help to improve KPS levels. Trial registration number(date) YX2021-011(2021/2/18)