A case of POEMS syndrome with high concentrations of interleukin-6 in pericardial fluid

The POEMS syndrome (plasma cell dyscrasia with polyneuropathy, organomegaly , endocrinopathy of various forms, monoclonal gammopathy, skin changes) is a rare multisystem disorder of unknown pathogenesis. Overexpression of proi nflammatory cytokines has been implicated in the pathogenesis of POEMS synd rome, however, it is not known whether there is an association between abno rmalities in cytokines and pericardial fluid. We present a case of POEMS sy ndrome with high concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in pericardial flui d. In our patient, pericarditis developed into cardiac tamponade, and the c oncentration of IL-6 in pericardial fluid was remarkably elevated compared with that in serum (1760 vs. 6.57 pg mL(-1)). We suggest that IL-6 is assoc iated with the progression or maintenance of pericarditis as a result of PO EMS syndrome.