Interleukin-6 in COVID-19

💡Scientists have studied that in severe cases of SARS-CoV-2, the disease progresses in the second stage:
Stage I – the immune system responds to the virus quickly and effectively;
Stage II – its reaction becomes aggressive, which, in turn, leads to the production of excessive amounts of cytokines.
📍As a result, respiratory system complications arise: pneumonia, distress syndrome, respiratory failure.
🔴“Cytokine storm” is a phenomenon in which the immune system produces an excessive number of immune cells that secrete messenger proteins known as cytokines. It is this excess of cytokines that can lead to lung inflammation.
Analysis for interleukin-6 makes it possible to assess the patient's condition in severe cases of the disease, as the anti-inflammatory cytokine has an effect on the organs and systems of the body.
🔴“Cytokine storms” are observed in various viral and bacterial infections (hepatitis, HIV, COVID-19), as well as in patients receiving certain treatments – CAR-T (for example), used to attack cancer cells.