[PAGID] serum IL-6

[Charlotte Cunningham-Rundles]

I have a pt who saw a hematologist/oncologist, and somehow this 
doctor drew a serum IL-6. She has a a slightly low serum IgM and not 
much else. Well the serum IL-6 was rather high, and now she wants to 
have this explained. The doc who drew it said that he was sorry he 
ordered it and it is meaningless.  I did a search and just can't find 
any use for serum IL-6. ( Maybe  Castlemans' disease...)  Does any 
one know any good use or meaning for this test ? any comments ?
-- 


Charlotte Cunningham-Rundles MD PhD
Professor of Medicine, Pediatrics  and Immunobiology
Mount Sinai School of Medicine
1425 Madison Ave, New York 10029
phone 212 659 9268
fax  212 987 5593
Email:  charlotte.cunningham-rundles at mssm.edu