THE VALUE OF SERUM INTERLEUKIN-6 MEASUREMENT IN THE INVESTIGATION OF PATIENTS SUSPECTED OF MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is one of the cytokine mediators of the acute pha se response. The value of IL-6 determination in the investigation of p atients suspected of acute myocardial infarction and unstable angina i s not fully established In 26 patients being investigated for AMI and UA, IL-6, Creatine Kinase (CK) and Troponin T (TnT) were elevated with peak values at 12 hours (for IL-6 and CK) and at 0 and 24 hours (for TnT) following admission. CK values in AMI were significantly differen t from UA patients at 0, 6, 12, and 25 hours following admission, wher eas, IL-6 values showed significant difference only at 24 hours. TnT s howed a significant difference between the groups at 0 and 24 hours fo llowing admission. There was poor negative correlation between IL-6 an d CK levels and percentage left ventricular ejection fraction. This st udy showed that, although IL-6 was elevated in AMI and UA patients, th e spread of the data indicated that its measurement is of limited valu e in the diagnosis of AMI.