URINARY LEVELS OF IL-6 IN PATIENTS WITH ACTIVE LUPUS NEPHRITIS

Using the IL-6 dependent hybridoma, MH60.BSF2, we measured urinary lev els of interleukin 6 (IL-6) in 29 patients' with active lupus nephriti s. We detected IL-6 activity in the urine of 24 (83%) of 29 patients b efore the initiation of therapy. The median value of urinary IL-6 leve ls in patients with a histologic diagnosis of WHO class IV on renal bi opsy was significantly higher than that in patients with other classes (p<0.01). After treatment, urinary levels of IL-6 decreased significa ntly (p<0.001). These data suggest that urinary levels of IL-6 may be a valuable tool for monitoring the progression of lupus nephritis.