Levels of Serum Interleukin-6 and Tumor Necrosis Factor in Postsplenectomized Thalassemic Patients

Abstract

Levels of serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were studied in 34 nonsplenectomized thalassemic patients (Thal/nonsplenec), 43 postsplenectomized thalassemic patients (Thal/postsplenec), 13 splenectomized non-thalassemic patients (nonThal/ postsplenec) and 18 normal control by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay method. Serum IL-6 concentration in Thal/postsplenec was significantly increased when compared with Thal/ nonsplenec and normal volunteers (3.55±2.47 pg/ml vs 2.38±2.31 pg/ml, p=0.036 and 3.55±2.47 pg/ml vs 2.66±0.45 pg/ml, p=0.028, respectively). This study also demonstrated that TNF-α value in Thal/postsplenec was drastically increased above normal control level (15.8±4.86 pg/ml vs 9.16±2.18 pg/ml, p=0.001) and the level was statistically significantly higher than that in Thal/ nonsplenec (15.5±4.86 pg/ml vs 9.96±5.19 pg/ml, p=0.001). There was a trend toward increasing of cytokine levels in Thal/postsplenec with higher platelet count although no correlation was observed. This study addresses the possible role of IL-6 and TNF-α in the pathogenesis of reactive thrombocytosis in Thal/postsplenec.