Elevated serum interleukin-6 in POEMS syndrome reflects the activity of the disease

In patients with POEMS syndrome, which often accompanies plasma cell dyscrasia, the roles of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and other acute phase cytokines are unknown. Serum IL-6, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique in 16 patients with POEMS syndrome and in patients with other neurological diseases (OND) as control. Serum IL-6 was more frequently detected and higher in active POEMS than in stable POEMS or in OND patients. No sample was positive for IL-1 beta. TNF-alpha was positive in 3 out of 7 active POEMS patients, but its significance was not definite. Serum IL-6 levels in POEMS patients reflected the disease activity but not the severity of accompanying plasma cell dyscrasia.