[Investigation of urinary interleukin-6 level in chronic renal failure patients and the influence of Rheum palmatum in treating it].

OBJECTIVE

To assess the clinical significance of urinary interleukin-6 (IL-6) level in chronic renal failure (CRF) patients and the effect of Rheum palmatum (RP) in treating it.

METHODS

RP and captopril were given to the study group, while captopril was given to the control group alone, and level of urinary IL-6 was determined by sandwich-ELISA.

RESULTS

Urinary IL-6 level in CRF patients was obviously higher, than that in healthy control (P < 0.01). After treatment, the urinary IL-6 and serum creatinine reduced significantly in the study group (P < 0.05), and there was significant difference compared with that in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Determination of urinary IL-6 level is useful in studying the severity of immune inflammation of CRF. RP improves renal function by inhibiting the production of IL-6 and lowering immune inflammation.