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Serum interleukin-6 predicts cortisol release in acute stroke patients

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Abstract

Altered hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis was reported in stroke patients; however, mechanisms responsible for this phenomenon are barely understood. Acute cerebral ischemia triggers interleukin-6 (IL-6) release into blood. Circulating IL-6 can stimulate hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis. The goal of our study was to assess a relationship between serum IL-6 and cortisol in acute ischemic stroke. Twenty two patients with ischemic stroke and 17 controls were included. Serum samples were collected on the 2nd day of stroke at 6:00, 10:00 18:00, 22:00 h and at the same time points in control group. Cytokines and cortisol levels were measured using ELISA method. Serum IL-6 and cortisol levels were higher in stroke patients than in controls. Cortisol displayed diurnal variations in both stroke patients and controls. In contrast with control subjects, serum IL-6 levels did not display diurnal variations in stroke patients. In stroke patients, but not in controls, IL-6 level correlated significantly with cortisol level and morning serum IL-6 level independently predicted evening/night cortisol level. In conclusion, brain ischemia could stimulate IL-6 release in blood and in this way modulate hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Jagiellonian University, 31-503 Kraków, ul. Botaniczna 3, Krakow, Poland

    A. Szczudlik, T. Dziedzic MD & A. Slowik

  2. 2nd Department of Cardiology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland

    S. Bartus

  3. Department of Epidemiology, Collegium Medicum, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland

    A. Kieltyka

Authors
  1. A. Szczudlik
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  2. T. Dziedzic MD
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  3. S. Bartus
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  4. A. Slowik
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  5. A. Kieltyka
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Szczudlik, A., Dziedzic, T., Bartus, S. et al. Serum interleukin-6 predicts cortisol release in acute stroke patients. J Endocrinol Invest 27, 37–41 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03350908

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03350908

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