Summary
| Direction in Atrial Fibrillation | ↕ Inconsistent — reported as both higher and lower across studies, with no consistent direction |
|---|---|
| Category | Other |
| Compared against | AF patients vs. implied healthy/reference |
| Source | Oikonomou et al. 2019 — doi:10.2174/0929867324666170830100424 |
| Condition atlas | Atrial Fibrillation Biomarker Atlas |
Other conditions where Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is reported
- Interleukin-6 in Epilepsy — ↑ elevated vs not explicitly named (comparison implied by disease state vs. normal/control)
- Interleukin-6 (IL-6) in Gulf War Illness — ↑ elevated vs HGV
- Interleukin-6 (IL-6) in Long COVID — ↑ elevated vs HC, R
- IL-6 in Low Back Pain — ↑ elevated vs chronic nonspecific LBP vs asymptomatic controls
- Interleukin-6 (IL-6) in Lyme Disease — ↑ elevated vs HC
- IL-6 in Major Depressive Disorder — ↑ elevated vs females with depression vs healthy female controls
- Interleukin-6 (IL-6) in ME/CFS — ↕ inconsistent vs HC
- Interleukin-6 in Migraine — ↑ elevated vs headache-free controls
- IL-6 in PACVS — ↑ elevated vs HC
- IL-6 in Rheumatoid Arthritis — ↑ elevated vs RA vs healthy (established inflammatory pathway/drug target)
See the cross-condition hub: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) across conditions.
Related Other markers in Atrial Fibrillation
- Growth Differentiation Factor-15 (GDF-15) ↕
- Mid-Regional pro-Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (MR-proANP) ↑
- Galectin-3 ↑
Full list: Atrial Fibrillation Biomarker Atlas.
Frequently asked questions
Is Interleukin-6 high or low in Atrial Fibrillation?
Mixed. Some studies report higher and others lower Interleukin-6 in Atrial Fibrillation compared with AF patients vs. implied healthy/reference, so no single direction is established. Source: Oikonomou et al. 2019.
Which test measures Interleukin-6?
The atlas record does not list a standardised clinical test code (LOINC) for Interleukin-6, which usually means it was measured with research assays or study-specific protocols rather than a routine clinical panel. Check the cited source for the exact method.
Is one abnormal Interleukin-6 result diagnostic of Atrial Fibrillation?
No. No single biomarker is diagnostic of Atrial Fibrillation. Interleukin-6 findings come from group comparisons, overlap considerably between patients and controls, and vary with study design, timing and comparison group. A result should be interpreted by a clinician alongside symptoms, history and other tests.
Is Interleukin-6 specific to Atrial Fibrillation?
No. The same marker is also reported in Epilepsy, Gulf War Illness, Long COVID, Low Back Pain, Lyme Disease, ME/CFS, Major Depressive Disorder, Migraine, PACVS, Rheumatoid Arthritis in this atlas, so it reflects shared biology (for example inflammation or vascular stress) rather than a condition-specific signature.
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Last reviewed: 2026-10-08 · Page generated from atrial-fibrillation.json · Browse: Atrial Fibrillation atlas · Biomarker Index · All marker pages
Disclaimer: This page is an educational synthesis of published, peer-reviewed research and is not medical advice. Biomarker findings vary across studies with case definitions, comparison groups, timing and assay methods. Direction of change reflects the predominant finding in the cited source and does not establish a diagnostic threshold. Discuss any test result with a qualified clinician.