ABSTRACT
Interleukin-6 [IL-6] plays an important role in megakaryocytopoiesis and platelet production.Thrombocytosis and inappropriate blood clotting occur postsplenectomy, this rebound phenomenon is more common following splenectomy for myeloproliferative disorders. So this study was done to assess levels of interleukin 6 in these patients. Levels of interleukin 6 were studied in 34 nonsplenectomized thalassemic patients [thal/nonsplen], 23 post-splenectomized thaIassemic patients [thal. I postsplen.], 13 splenectomized non thalassemic [non thal. /postsplenectomized] and 18 normal control by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay method. Serum IL-6 concentration in thaI. I postsplenectomized was significantly increased when compared with thal/nonsplenectomized and control volunteers [3.55 +/- 2. 47 pglml 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]. There was a trend towards increasing of cytokine levels in thal. / postsplen with higher platelet count although no correlation was observed. This study addresses the possible role of IL-6 in the pathogenesis of reactive thrombocytosis in thal/postsplenectomy