[Interleukin-6 in endemic goiter patients in the south Ural region].

The cytokine and thyroid status was studied in patients with endemic goiter (EG) depending on thyroid function. IL-6 correlated with free T3 levels (a negative relationship) in hyperthyroidism, with IL-2 and IFN-gamma levels in EG patients with euthyroidism, and with IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-8, IL-10, and IFN-gamma in hypothyroidism. The EG patients with high IL-6 levels showed positive relationships to IL-2 and thyroid peroxidase antibodies and a negative relationship to free T3. In these patients, IL-6 acted to stimulate the secretion of antithyroid antibodies, which is a risk of autoimmune thyroiditis.