CORRELATION OF INTERLEUKIN-6 SERUM LEVELS WITH BONE-DENSITY IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN

In order to identify possible correlations between interleukin-6 (IL-6 ) and hormonal and biochemical parameters of bone metabolism, or bone density, 24 postmenopausal women were studied. Serum IL-6, estradiol, calcium, phosphorus, osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase, the urinary se cretion of calcium, phosphorus and hydroxyproline, and bone density of the lumbar spine, femur and radius were measured. No significant corr elation was found between IL-6 and the biochemical parameters. A negat ive correlation was found between IL-6 and serum estradiol, as well as between IL-6 and bone density in 5 out of 6 sites studied. It is poss ible that women with high IL-6 levels, may develop lower bone mass.