Summary
| Direction in Low Back Pain | ↑ Elevated — higher than in the comparison group |
|---|---|
| Category | Inflammatory |
| Compared against | chronic nonspecific LBP vs asymptomatic controls |
| Test type | Blood test (serum / plasma / whole blood) |
| LOINC code | 26881-5 |
| Source | Injeyan et al. 2025 — doi:10.1177/11772719251355038 |
| Condition atlas | Low Back Pain Biomarker Atlas |
Other conditions where Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is reported
- Interleukin-6 (IL-6) in Gulf War Illness — ↑ elevated vs HGV
- Interleukin-6 (IL-6) in Long COVID — ↑ elevated vs HC, R
- 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
- 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 Inflammatory markers in Low Back Pain
- CRP ↑
Full list: Low Back Pain Biomarker Atlas.
Frequently asked questions
Is IL-6 high or low in Low Back Pain?
Elevated. Studies summarised in the OSMF atlas report higher IL-6 in Low Back Pain than in the reference group of the cited comparison (chronic nonspecific LBP vs asymptomatic controls). Source: Injeyan et al. 2025.
Which test measures IL-6?
It is measured as a blood test (serum / plasma / whole blood). The standard laboratory code is LOINC 26881-5. Many of the cited studies used research-grade assays, so clinical availability may vary.
Is one abnormal IL-6 result diagnostic of Low Back Pain?
No. No single biomarker is diagnostic of Low Back Pain. IL-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 IL-6 specific to Low Back Pain?
No. The same marker is also reported in Gulf War Illness, Long COVID, Lyme Disease, ME/CFS, Major Depressive Disorder, 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: 2026-07-03 · Page generated from low-back-pain.json · Browse: Low Back Pain 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.