Interleukin-6 and interleukin-4 levels in multiple myeloma and correlation of interleukin-6 with β2 microglobulin and serum creatinine

Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a very common hematological malignancy in elderly person throughout the world. Cytokine network have been implicated in the pathogenesis of MM especially in bony lesions, which are the predominant features of plasma cell dyscrasia. Aims and Methods: The aim of this study was to investigate level of serum interleukin 6 (IL-6) and its correlation with β2 microglobulin and serum creatinine and level of IL-4 in MM. Both cytokines and β2 microglobulin were estimated by ELISA kit. Results: Serum IL-6 level was done in 34 patients of MM and 75 healthy controls. It was found to be elevated (>11 pg/ml) in 69.7% cases, whereas none of the control cases had this value. There was no correlation of serum IL-6 with age of the patient, serum β2 microglobulin or serum calcium but serum IL-6 correlated positively with serum creatinine. Rise of IL-6 in MM as compared to control was highly significant. Contrary to this serum IL-4 level in 60% MM cases were below 2.5 pg/ml and rest 40% patients had it between 2.5 and 12 pg/ml. Contrary to this, 86.67% healthy control had IL-4 between 2.5 and 12 pg/ml and only 13.33% had its value below 2.5 pg/ml. Statistically reduction of IL-4 when compared to control was significant. Conclusions: Our study concludes that MM is associated with increase in IL-6 and decrease in IL-4 in majority cases. In future, treatment with monoclonal antibody to IL-6 and recombinant IL-4 can be used to treat the patients of MM.