Interleukin-6 producing pheochromocytoma presenting with acute inflammatory syndrome.
Pheochromocytomas are tumors able to produce catecholamines and a variety of biologically active neuropeptides. We report the case of a 36-yr-old female patient with pheochromocytoma exhibiting headache, intermittent fever, thrombocytosis, and marked inflammatory signs. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were ineffective in lowering the body temperature, while a corticosteroid agent obtained excellent results. IL-6 was found elevated (20 pg/ml); it fell to 4.5 pg/ml 3 weeks after the adrenalectomy, in parallel to normalization of other laboratory data. The interleukin-6 (IL-6) over-production can either be ascribed directly to the tumor (as confirmed by immunohistochemistry) or indirectly accounted for by tumoral production, as a consequence of the high levels of circulating norepinephrine. To our knowledge, our paper represents the 6th case report of IL-6 secreting pheochromocytoma associated with clinical markers of inflammatory response.
Minetto
M
M
Department of clinical and Biological Sciences, General Medical Clinic, San Luigi Hospital, Orbassano (TO), Italy. marcominetto@libero.it
Dovio
A
A
Ventura
M
M
Cappia
S
S
Daffara
F
F
Terzolo
M
M
Angeli
A
A
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000315:Adrenalectomy; D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood; D010257:Paraneoplastic Syndromes / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D015850:Interleukin-6; D009638:Norepinephrine