Interleukin-6 in the blood of patients with total hip arthroplasty without loosening.

Abstract

Patients with total hip arthroplasty were screened for the presence of proinflammatory cytokines in the systemic circulation. Only increased levels of interleukin-6 were detected in patients having had total hip arthroplasty more than 10 years ago. These increased levels of interleukin-6 were associated with a decrease in bone mineral density associated with polyethylene wear and with radiologic osteolysis in some patients. These abnormalities were not found in control subjects without total hip arthroplasty or in patients who had a prosthesis in place for less than 6 years. The elevation in interleukin-6 levels found in patients with the oldest prostheses could constitute a marker for periprosthetic osteolysis.