Serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM)

In this study we determined, in patients with multiple myeloma (MM), serum levels of IL-4 and IL-6 at diagnosis and during the course of the disease, seeking a correlation with disease activity and prognosis. We studied 54 MM patients, 41 of whom responded to chemotherapy whilst 11 were resistant. At diagnosis, IL-6 was increased in 66% of patients (median 35.5 pg/ml) whereas IL-4 was low (median 4 pg/ml) in 75% of patients. In responding patients, IL-4 increased in remission (median 25 pg/ml), whereas IL-6 decreased (median 4 pg/ml). In chemotherapy-resistant patients, IL-6 and IL-4 values remained stable during the course of the disease.