title: Serum immunoreactive interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein levels in patients with multiple myeloma at diagnosis.
abstract: Serum bioactive but not immunoreactive interleukin-6 (IL-6), and serum C-reactive protein (CRP), have been reported to be of prognostic significance in multiple myeloma (MM). We measured serum immunoreactive IL-6 by a sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 30 MM patients at diagnosis. In 30% of the patients serum immunoreactive IL-6 exceeded the upper reference limit. The concentrations of CRP and IL-6 showed a linear association. Logarithmically transformed IL-6, CRP and beta 2-microglobulin were significant variables by univariate survival analysis; by multivariate analysis CRP was a slightly stronger prognostic factor than IL-6 and the only one of independent prognostic significance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Turku University Central Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tienhaara
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pulkki
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mattila
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Irjala
authors.forename: T T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Pelliniemi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015850:Interleukin-6; D002097:C-Reactive Protein