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Description

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a cytokine that is produced by a variety of cells in response to inflammation. It is a marker of inflammation and is used to diagnose and monitor a variety of diseases.

The clinical test for IL-6 is typically performed on a patient's serum. The serum is obtained by drawing a sample of blood from the patient and then separating the serum from the other components of the blood. This is typically done by centrifugation. Once the serum is obtained, it is then tested for IL-6 using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). This test measures the amount of IL-6 in the serum and can be used to diagnose and monitor a variety of diseases.

Synonyms

• IL-6

Other Sample Sources for This Test

• amniotic fluid
• bone marrow
• cerebrospinal fluid
• monocyte
• peritoneal fluid
• pleural fluid
• sputum
• synovial fluid
• urine

Some Diseases Associated with an Abnormal Interleukin-6

• infectious or parasitic disease
• acute respiratory infection
• malignant neoplasm
• injury
• major depressive disorder
• viral infection
• malignant pulmonary neoplasm
• acute myocardial infarction
• malignant female breast neoplasm
• infectious mononucleosis
• anemia
• acute pancreatitis
• pneumonia
• congestive heart failure
• bacterial pneumonia
• hematologic malignancy
• rheumatoid arthritis
• schizophrenia
• chronic kidney disease
• chronic-disease anemia
• spondylosis
• stroke
• urticaria
• acute appendicitis
• gout
• diffuse connective tissue disease

Detailed Laboratory Testing Information (use the custom search buttons below to find details on these topics)

All of the following must be considered when interpreting clinical findings and are too extensive to be covered on this site: