Summary:Pro-inflammatory (IL-6, TNF␣ and IL-8) and antiinflammatory (IL-10) cytokines were determined in weekly samples from 52 patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). IL-6 increased immediately after transplant peaking at week +3, but IL-8 concentrations were elevated only during week +1. After a slight decrease in week +1, TNF-␣ significantly increased from week +2 and peaked at week +3, whereas, IL-10 values started to rise in week +2 and peaked during week +4. IL-6 and TNF-␣ were positively correlated from week +2 to week +4, and IL-6 levels at week +1 were related with fever and severe stomatitis. Serum levels of IL-6 at week +1 and IL-10 at week +4 were significantly higher in patients with early transplant-related complications, such as fever, severe stomatitis or acute GVHD у overall grade II than in those without the complications. We conclude that a high serum IL-6 level at week +1 may be an early predictor of transplant-related complications and that it seems to trigger pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokine release. Kinetic patterns of IL-6 and IL-10 were more exaggerated in those with complications after HSCT. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2001) 28, 935-940.

Summary:Autoimmune diseases can be transmitted and eliminated by bone marrow transplantation (BMT). There have been several cases of autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) occurring after BMT, but AITD remission has been rarely reported. We present four cases in which the remission or transfer of AITD occurred after an allogeneic BMT. Two patients with severe aplastic anemia (SAA) showed evidence of remission of Hashimoto's thyroiditis which they had before allogeneic BMT. One patient with SAA, which developed during treatment with propylthiouracil for Graves' disease, underwent allogeneic BMT and showed evidence of Graves' disease remission following BMT. In one patient, new AITD occurred after an allogeneic BMT from an HLAmatched sibling who already had AITD. These cases support the evidence that the immune system is newly reconstituted after BMT, and severe autoimmune disease can be an indication for BMT. To fully understand the real changes in autoimmune status after BMT, longterm prospective studies are necessary. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2001) 28, 63-66.