title: A case of POEMS syndrome with high concentrations of interleukin-6 in pericardial fluid.
abstract: The POEMS syndrome (plasma cell dyscrasia with polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy of various forms, monoclonal gammopathy, skin changes) is a rare multisystem disorder of unknown pathogenesis. Overexpression of proinflammatory cytokines has been implicated in the pathogenesis of POEMS syndrome, however, it is not known whether there is an association between abnormalities in cytokines and pericardial fluid. We present a case of POEMS syndrome with high concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in pericardial fluid. In our patient, pericarditis developed into cardiac tamponade, and the concentration of IL-6 in pericardial fluid was remarkably elevated compared with that in serum (1760 vs. 6.57 pg mL(-1)). We suggest that IL-6 is associated with the progression or maintenance of pericarditis as a result of POEMS syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chiba Municipal Hospital, Chiba, Japan. ichi-hs@city.chiba.jp
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shikama
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Isono
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Otsuka
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Terano
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hirai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000378:metabolism; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000378:metabolism; D016878:POEMS Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
chemical_list: D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors