Interleukin 6: a possible marker of disease activity in adult onset Still's disease.
OBJECTIVE
Adult onset Still's disease (AOSD) is an inflammatory disorder with elevated serum acute phase proteins. Interleukin-6 is a major contributor to the acute phase response. We therefore examined the serum levels of CRP, SAA and interleukin-6 in active and inactive AOSD.


RESULTS
Active patients had significantly elevated CRP, SAA, and interleukin-6 values. After steroid treatment a marked reduction was observed in all three parameters. There was a close kinetics on the fluctuations of CRP and SAA, but not on IL-6.


CONCLUSIONS
Acute phase proteins and IL-6 are useful markers of disease activity in AOSD.
Scheinberg
M A
MA
Laboratory of Diagnostic Investigation, Immunology Division IBCC, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Chapira
E
E
Fernandes
M L
ML
Hubscher
O
O
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001053:Apolipoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D016706:Still's Disease, Adult-Onset / Q000097:blood*
D001053:Apolipoproteins; D015415:Biomarkers; D015850:Interleukin-6; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein; D002097:C-Reactive Protein