title: Hypoglycemia increases serum interleukin-6 levels in healthy men and women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Inflammation may have a major role in the pathogenesis and prognosis of critical illness. Hyperglycemia increases levels of the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) and is associated with increased risks of morbidity and mortality. Because hypoglycemia is also associated with adverse outcomes, we tested the hypothesis that hypoglycemia increases IL-6.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventeen healthy men and women participated in hypoglycemic and euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp studies (target blood glucose levels 2.7 and 5.0 mmol/l, respectively), separated by 1-3 months. IL-6, ACTH, and cortisol were measured at baseline and at 45, 75, 105, and 135 min after initiation of the insulin infusion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IL-6, ACTH, and cortisol levels increased significantly (P < 0.0001) during hypoglycemia but not euglycemia. IL-6 increased from mean +/- SEM 1.0 +/- 0.2 pg/ml at baseline to 2.6 +/- 0.2 pg/ml after 135 min of hypoglycemia, whereas IL-6 levels were unchanged during euglycemia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hypoglycemia increases IL-6 levels in healthy individuals.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Hypertension, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dotson
authors.forename: Roy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: Hannah J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Failing
authors.forename: Gail K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Adler
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000097:blood; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000097:blood*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D015850:Interleukin-6; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone