[Soluble interleukin-6 receptors in the serum in multiple myeloma].

BACKGROUND: Infrequent studies, having been published so far, have brought few, partly contradictory, results on the importance of soluble receptor of Interleukin-6 (sIL-6R) in serum in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). The aim of the study was to find out, if there are applicable relations between the levels of sIL-6R and the values of selected clinical and biochemical indices and the levels of some cytokines in serum. METHODS AND RESULTS: The authors analyzed a cohort of 50 patients suffering from MM (age median 64 years, range 34-83 years, ratio of men versus women 1.2:1.0). The soluble IL-6R and other cytokines were examined by ELISA assay, clinical stages of the disease were evaluated according to Durie-Salmon and Bataille. Increased values of sIL-6R (> 90 ng/ml) were in 28 (56%) of patients, median value was 87.4 (range 28.3-220 ng/l). Correlation analysis (Pearson test, p 6 ng/ml and > 20%, respectively). There was no statistically significant relation of the levels of sIL-6R to clinical stages of MM (1-3) and the degree of activity of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: Increased values of sIL-6R, detected in more than a half of the cohort, were, with the exception of S-B2M, S-TK and massive infiltration of bone marrow by myeloma plasmocytes, in no applicable relation to selected biochemical indices, to the level of some cytokines and to the degree of advancement and activity of the disease.