INCREASED PLASMA-LEVEL OF INTERLEUKIN-6 IN DISSEMINATED INTRAVASCULARCOAGULATION

Plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) was higher in patients with disseminated i ntravascular coagulation (DIC) than in those without DIC. Levels of IL -1beta and TNFalpha were also significantly higher in patients with DI C. Plasma IL-6 was highest in patients with underlying sepsis and was also high in those with advanced solid cancer. Levels were high in som e patients with acute promyelocytic leukaemia and were significantly h igher in patients with organ failure than in those without this compli cation. Plasma IL-6 was higher in DIC patients showing a poor response to therapy than in those with a good response. Incubation with IL-6 c aused significant increases in tissue factor activity in mononuclear c ells and release of plasminogen activator-1 antigen from human umbilic al vein endothelial cells. As increases in IL-6 might give rise to hyp ercoagulable and hypofibrinolytic states, this may be a cause of DIC a nd be related to prognosis and organ failure.