IL6 and systemic lupus erythematosus: Figure 1 shows the distribution of serum cytokine levels among patients and control groups. The mean level of IL-6 in SLE patients was 4.5 times higher (63.00 ± 67.28 pg/mL) as compared to controls (14.13 ± 8.61 pg/mL). This difference was statistically significant as compared with healthy individuals (P < 0.0001). The serum IL-6 level was significantly higher in active SLE patients (70.45 ± 68.32 pg/mL) as compared to inactive disease (43.83 ± 63.36 pg/mL, P = 0.0430) (Figure 1(a)).