Correlation of interleukin-6 serum levels with bone density in postmenopausal women.

In order to identify possible correlations between interleukin-6 (IL-6) and hormonal and biochemical parameters of bone metabolism, or bone density, 24 postmenopausal women were studied. Serum IL-6, estradiol, calcium, phosphorus, osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase, the urinary secretion of calcium, phosphorus and hydroxyproline, and bone density of the lumbar spine, femur and radius were measured. No significant correlation was found between IL-6 and the biochemical parameters. A negative correlation was found between IL-6 and serum estradiol, as well as between IL-6 and bone density in 5 out of 6 sites studied. It is possible that women with high IL-6 levels, may develop lower bone mass.

Type 1 cryoglobulinaemia associated with a thymic tumour: successful treatment with plasma exchange.

Thymic tumours are associated with a wide range of autoimmune and haematological disorders, notably myasthenia gravis, red cell aplasia, and systemic lupus erythematosus. An association with cryoglobulinaemia has only once been reported previously. In this report we describe a 60-yr-old male patient with a spindle cell thymoma, treated surgically, who also had type 1 cryoglobulinaemia, with severe peripheral circulatory impairment with digital ulceration and a mononeutitis multiplex. The patient has been successfully treated with prednisolone, immunosuppression and plasma exchange.