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Case Reports
. 2008 May;393(3):423-5.
doi: 10.1007/s00423-007-0217-y. Epub 2007 Aug 17.

Uneventful splenectomy and cholecystectomy in a patient treated with anti-interleukin-6 receptor antibody therapy

Morihiko Ishizaki  1 , Tetsuro Sasada, Akane Kunitomi, Yoshiteru Konaka, Masato Yagita, Shutaro Gunji, Michiyuki Kanai, Norihiro Nishimoto, Arimichi Takabayashi
Affiliations
Case Reports

Uneventful splenectomy and cholecystectomy in a patient treated with anti-interleukin-6 receptor antibody therapy

Morihiko Ishizaki et al. Langenbecks Arch Surg. 2008 May.

Abstract

Introduction: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a multifunctional cytokine that regulates various aspects of the immune responses, acute phase reactions, and hematopoiesis. In rodent models, IL-6 has been suggested to be one of the essential mediators for optimal acute phase responses to infection and tissue damage. However, in humans, the roles of IL-6 in acute phase responses after surgery remain poorly understood.

Case report: We present the first case report of successful splenectomy and cholecystectomy in a severe autoimmune-associated hemolytic anemia patient during treatment with a humanized anti-IL-6 receptor antibody.

Discussion: This unique case suggests that IL-6 is not an essential cytokine to safely perform surgical intervention and to prevent postoperative complications and that surgical intervention may not be contraindicated but can be selected as a therapeutic modality in patients treated with anti-IL-6 receptor antibody therapy.

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