[Study on serum soluble interleukin-6 receptor levels in patients with malignant hematological diseases].

OBJECTIVE

To explore the clinical implication of soluble interleukin-6 receptor(sIL-6R) in patients with malignant hematological diseases.

METHODS

Serum levels of sIL-6R in 26 multiple myeloma (MM), 34 acute leukemia (AL) and 17 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) patients before and after chemotherapy and 20 normal controls were measured by immunoenzymetic assay.

RESULTS

Serum levels of sIL-6R in MM and B-ALL patients at diagnosis were significantly higher than that in normal controls (P < 0.001, and P < 0.01, respectively), while the levels in ANLL, T-ALL and NHL patients were normal. Serum beta2 microglobulin and creatinine levels in MM patients with elevated serum sIL-6R were higher than that in patients with normal sIL-6R levels(P < 0.001, and P < 0.05, respectively). Serum sIL-6R levels did not relate to clinical stages. Serum lactic-dehydrogenase (LDH) levels in B-ALL patients with elevated sIL-6R were higher than that in patients with normal sIL-6R levels (P < 0.05). Serial measurement of serum sIL-6R in MM patients showed a good correlation with serum M-protein and plasma cell percentage in bone marrow.

CONCLUSION

Serum sIL-6R levels were significantly increased in MM and B-ALL patients, and it is a predictive factor for responsiveness to chemotherapy and an indicator of disease activity.