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.