[PAGID] serum IL-6

[Luigi Notarangelo]

Charlotte:

another situation in which elevated IL-6 may be observed is inflammatory 
disorders.
Being a pediatrician, I am particularly aware of this happening in systemic 
juvenile arthritis
(and in fact, monoclonal antibodies to IL-6R are being tested in clinical 
trials).


Luigi D. Notarangelo
Dept. Pediatrics, University of Brescia
Spedali Civili
25123 Brescia
Italy


At 03.00 28/09/2005, you wrote:
>Charlotte:
>
>Elevated serum IL-6 may be observed in monoclonal gammopathy of unknown
>signficance (MGUS).  Blade J, Filella X, Montoto S, Bosch F, Rosinol L, Coca
>F, Gine E, Nadal E, Aymerich M, Rozman M, Montserrat E. Interleukin 6 and
>tumour necrosis factor alpha serum levels in monoclonal gammopathy of
>undetermined significance. Br J Haematol. 2002 May;117(2):387-9, report that
>"[Patients] with MGUS had a higher IL-6 and TNF-alpha serum levels than
>normal controls. Up to a third and a fifth of MGUS individuals had elevated
>IL-6 and TNF-alpha serum levels respectively."  In this study, increased
>IL-6 and TNF-alpha serum values were not significantly associated with a
>higher probability of malignant transformation.
>
>Our suggestion is for the patient's hematologist/oncologist perform
>immunofixation electrophoresis of her serum and urine to check for
>monoclonal gammopathy.
>
>Sincerely,
>
>Vivian Chou MD, Fellow-in-Training
>Anita Gewurz MD <agewurz at rush.edu>
>Fellowship Director
>Rush Medical College-Stroger/Cook County Hospital
>Allergy/Immunology Training Program
>Rush University Medical Center
>1725 W Harrison - 117
>Chicago IL 60612
>TEL (312) 942-6296
>FAX (312) 563-2201