IL6 and alexithymia: In 24 male and female patients suffering from Somatoform Disorder (SFD), Pedrosa Gil et al. (19), found a significant negative correlation between alexithymia and serum levels of IL-2 receptor while they observed significant positive correlations between alexithymia and serum levels of IL-6, IL-10, and Immunoglobulin E. These authors suggested that patients suffering from SFD with clinically significant alexithymia exhibit a reduction in Th1-mediated immune function and an increase in the activation of the Th2 immune function.