Increased interleukin 6 concentrations in the absence and presence of HIV-1 infection in haemophilia.
OBJECTIVE
To measure IL-6 concentrations in asymptomatic HIV-1 antibody positive and negative haemophilic patients and to correlate these with IgG concentrations and CD4 positive cell numbers.


METHODS
IL-6 concentrations were measured by bioassay in stored serum from a prospective cohort of haemophilic patients in whom immunoglobulins and T cell subsets had been determined. Values of IL-6 and immunoglobulins were also correlated with severity of liver disease.


RESULTS
IL-6 concentrations were raised in haemophilic patients independent of HIV-1 antibody status. In HIV-1 antibody positive patients there was no correlation between IL-6 concentrations and CD4 positive cell numbers, but there was a correlation with IgG (r = 0.4; p = 0.05). In HIV-1 antibody negative patients there were no significant correlations.


CONCLUSIONS
Haemophilic patients have increased IL-6 concentrations; in HIV-1 positive patients this is independent of the decline in CD4 cell count. The raised concentrations do not correlate with the clinical severity of liver disease.
Madhok
R
R
University Department of Medicine, Glasgow Royal Infirmary.
Cruickshank
A
A
Gracie
A J
AJ
Shenkin
A
A
Lowe
G D
GD
D000328:Adult; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis*; D011446:Prospective Studies
D015704:CD4 Antigens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D015850:Interleukin-6