Interleukin-6 secreting phaeochromocytoma associated with clinical markers of inflammation

Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 1997 Apr;46(4):507-9. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2265.1997.1160931.x.

Abstract

Phaeochromocytomas have been shown to produce not only catecholamines but other neuropeptides and hormones, with a variety of clinical manifestations. We report a 70-year-old female patient with phaeochromocytoma exhibiting sustained hypertension, low-grade fever, thrombocytosis, and elevated levels of plasma fibrinogen and C-reactive protein. Serum interleukin (IL)-6 levels were significantly elevated, whereas serum IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta were not detectable. After surgical removal of the tumour, hypertension and low-grade fever disappeared, and the laboratory finding including serum IL-6 concentrations became normal. Immunohistochemical study of the tumour showed positive staining for IL-6. Culture of the resected tumour revealed the production of large amounts of IL-6. It is suggested that IL-6 secreted by the tumour was responsible for some of the clinical manifestations in this patient.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / immunology
  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / surgery
  • Aged
  • Female
  • Fever / blood
  • Fever / immunology
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / blood
  • Hypertension / immunology
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Interleukin-6 / analysis
  • Interleukin-6 / blood
  • Interleukin-6 / metabolism*
  • Neoplasm Proteins / analysis
  • Neoplasm Proteins / blood
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism*
  • Pheochromocytoma / immunology
  • Pheochromocytoma / metabolism*
  • Pheochromocytoma / surgery

Substances

  • Interleukin-6
  • Neoplasm Proteins