INTERLEUKIN-11 LEVELS IN PATIENTS WITH DISSEMINATED INTRAVASCULAR COAGULATION

We assessed the blood interleukin 11 (IL-11) levels in patients with d isseminated intravascular coagulation (DIG). The IL-11 level exceeded the detection limit, i.e., IL-11 was positive, in 14 of the 21 patient s in the group with DIC complicated by sepsis, with a mean value of 20 .4 pg/ml. In the group with DIC uncomplicated by infection, IL-11 leve ls were above the detection limit in 8 of the 17 patients, and the ave rage level was 10.6 pg/ml. The difference between the IL-11-positive r ate in the two groups was not significant. Although IL-11 levels tende d to be higher in the group with sepsis as a complication, the differe nce was not significant. The elevated IL-11 levels observed in patient s with DIG, with or without complication by infection, seem quite appr opriate as a biological response to increased platelets.