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Has Anyone Had a Cytokine Panel

Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Jun 16 3:37pm | Replies (9)

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@dadcue

Is there a way for you to post the results and the details about why the Cytokine Panel was ordered? Did anyone interpret the results?

I haven't ever had a Cytokine Panel done. I assume my IL-6 level is now back to normal because I do a monthly infusion of a biologic called Actemra (tocilizumab) which is an IL-6 receptor blocker. I need to ask why my IL-6 level wasn't checked before starting Actemra. You would think a doctor would want to know what these cytokines levels are before starting an expensive medication.

As far as I know, Actemra only targeted my PMR diagnosis. My IL-6 level must have been high otherwise Actemra probably wouldn't have worked as well as it did.

My rheumatologist said he took an educated guess when I asked how he knew Actemra would work.

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"Targeting cytokines has become an important strategy for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Biological drugs, such as monocular antibodies and soluble receptors, have been developed to block the activity of specific Pro-inflammatory cytokines."
https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/63859/the-pivotal-role-of-cytokines-in-autoimmune-diseases
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I would like to know why Cytokine Panels aren't done more often!

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Replies to "Is there a way for you to post the results and the details about why the..."

My rheumatologist has talked about targeting other cytokines if Actemra stops working. Then he talks about upstream and downstream regulation and cross talk. I have no idea what he is talking about.

I have concluded there aren't single isolated inflammation pathways. It sounds more like an inflammation network of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Some cytokines are both pro and anti-inflammatory. I don't think I will understand it anytime soon.

Maybe that is why they don't order Cytokine Panels because nobody understands them.

Cytokine panel tests aren't covered by Medicare in Australia and they don't come cheap. That's probably why they aren't done much here at least. Maybe they aren't as much diagnostic use as other tests that are covered?