IL6 and infection: Laboratory tests revealed a normal white blood cell count (WBC) of 6.7 × 109/L despite markedly elevated infection markers, including C-reactive protein (CRP) at 74.2 mg/L, interleukin-6 (IL-6) at 79.3 pg/ml, and procalcitonin (PCT) at 73.8 ng/ml, suggestive of a severe systemic inflammatory response.