Objective To detect the serum levels of interleukin-37 (IL-37), Dickkopf-1 (DKK1)and bone destruction factors in male patients, and explore its expression during the intermission of male gouty arthritis.

Methods A total of 79 male patients with gouty arthritis during the intermission period and 51 controls from the physical examination center during the same period were included. The levels of IL-37 and DKK1 in the patients' serum were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Meanwhile, the expressions of bone destruction factorsβ-crosslinking degradation products (β-CTX), tartrate resistance acid phosphatase-5B (TRACP-5b) were detected, and the expressions of the above factors during the interphase of male gouty arthritis were analyzed.

Results The levels of SUA, GLO and Scr in the gout chronic intermission period group were higher than those in control group (P ＜ 0.05), while the levels of ALB and AST were lower than those in control group (P ＜ 0.05). The serum level of IL-37 was positively correlated with DKK-1 (r_s = 0.687, P ＜ 0.05). The levels of IL-37, DKK1, TRAP-5b, β-CTX and IL-37/DKK1 in the gouty arthritis interstitial group were all higher than those in control group (P ＜ 0.05). The results of logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for other factors, the serum levels of IL-37, DKK-1 and TRAP-5b were still positively correlated with the interphase of gouty arthritis (B = –0.031, 1.845, 1.032, P ＜ 0.05).

Conclusions Patients with chronic gout during the intermission period have abnormal indicators of blood uric acid, liver and kidney functions, and bone metabolism. The levels of serum IL-37, DKK-1 and TRAP-5B significantly increase, and are independent disease-related factors, which can be used as potential markers for evaluating inflammation and bone injury during the chronic interlude of gout.