Interleukin-6(IL-6) is a cytokine sccreted from lymphocytes or non-lymphoid cell(monocyte, fibroblast, osteoblast, vascular endothelial cell, or syncviocytes). Increased serum Il-6 concentrations have recently been reported in patients with
subacute
thyroiditis, possibly because of cytokine release damaged thyroid cells. In this study, IL-6 levels serum T3, T4 Thyroglobulin(Tg) and TSH were determined by an radioimmunoassay method in 14 patients treated with radioactive iodine (10 mci) for
Graves'
disease. IL-6 levels were as follows: 23.9±0.8fmol/ml(at baseline), 25.4±1.1 fmol/ml(1hour), 24.7±0.6fmol/ml(24 hours), 76.8±2.0 fmol/ml(48 hours), 22.8±0.5 fmol/ml(72 hours). There was significant increase in IL-6 values at 48 hours after
RAI
treatment(p<0.01). Serum Tg, T3 and T4 also increased after RAI treatment, but no significant correlation could be demonstrated with the increase in L-6. The results of this study support the concept that IL-6 can be regarded as a useful marker
of
thyroid-destructive processes(J Kor Soc Endocrinol 10:214~219, 1995).
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