title: Interleukin-6 stimulates coagulation, not fibrinolysis, in humans.
abstract: The role of IL-6 as a mediator of haemostatic changes during severe inflammation is controversial. To assess the effect of IL-6 on haemostasis we conducted a controlled cross-over study in eight patients with metastatic renal cell cancer. In all subjects coagulation and fibrinolysis were monitored during and after a 4-h infusion of either 150 micrograms recombinant human (rh) IL-6, or during infusion of saline (control study). Mean maximum IL-6 concentrations were 1418.0 +/- 755.8 pg/ml. Compared to the control study, rhIL-6 induced activation of coagulation as reflected by a 190 +/- 55% increase in the plasma levels of thrombin-antithrombin III complexes (p < 0.001) and by a 24 +/- 11% increase in the plasma levels of in the prothrombin activation fragment F1 + 2 (p < 0.001). In contrast, fibrinolysis was not affected. We conclude that in severe inflammation IL-6 may contribute to the activation of coagulation, whereas other factors mediate changes in fibrinolysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Stouthard
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Levi
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Hack
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Veenhof
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Romijn
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Sauerwein
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: van der Poll
mesh_terms: D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000145:classification / Q000628:therapy; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D005342:Fibrinolysis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D011994:Recombinant Proteins