Interleukin-6 producing pheochromocytoma presenting with acute inflammatory syndrome

J Endocrinol Invest. 2003 May;26(5):453-7. doi: 10.1007/BF03345202.

Abstract

Pheochromocytomas are tumors able to produce catecholamines and a variety of biologically active neuropeptides. We report the case of a 36-yr-old female patient with pheochromocytoma exhibiting headache, intermittent fever, thrombocytosis, and marked inflammatory signs. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were ineffective in lowering the body temperature, while a corticosteroid agent obtained excellent results. IL-6 was found elevated (20 pg/ml); it fell to 4.5 pg/ml 3 weeks after the adrenalectomy, in parallel to normalization of other laboratory data. The interleukin-6 (IL-6) over-production can either be ascribed directly to the tumor (as confirmed by immunohistochemistry) or indirectly accounted for by tumoral production, as a consequence of the high levels of circulating norepinephrine. To our knowledge, our paper represents the 6th case report of IL-6 secreting pheochromocytoma associated with clinical markers of inflammatory response.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use
  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / blood
  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / complications
  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / pathology
  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / surgery
  • Adrenalectomy
  • Adult
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Fever / etiology
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-6 / blood*
  • Norepinephrine / blood
  • Paraneoplastic Syndromes / blood
  • Paraneoplastic Syndromes / etiology*
  • Pheochromocytoma / blood
  • Pheochromocytoma / complications
  • Pheochromocytoma / metabolism*
  • Pheochromocytoma / pathology
  • Pheochromocytoma / surgery

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Interleukin-6
  • Norepinephrine