In this study we determined, in patients with multiple myeloma (MM), serum levels of IL‐4 and IL‐6 at diagnosis and during the course of the disease, seeking a correlation with disease activity and prognosis. We studied 54 MM patients, 41 of whom responded to chemotherapy whilst 11 were resistant. At diagnosis, IL‐6 was increased in 66 of patients (median 35.5 pg/ml) whereas IL‐4 was low (median 4 pg/ml) in 75 of patients. In responding patients, IL‐4 increased in remission (median 25 pg/ml), whereas IL‐6 decreased (median 4 pg/ml). In chemotherapy‐resistant patients, IL‐6 and IL‐4 values remained stable during
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