Abstract: Objective To analyze expression and significance of interferon-γ(IFN-γ),interleukin-6(IL-6) and interleukin-4(IL-4) in patients with multiple myeloma(MM) complicated with herpes zoster infection caused by bortezomib-containing regimen. 
Methods In total, 60 patients with MM complicated with herpes zoster infection caused by bortezomib-containing regimen were selected as MM complicated with herpes zoster infection group, and 60 patients with simple MM were selected as MM group, and 60 healthy physical examinees were selected as healthy group. The levels of IFN-γ, IL-6 and IL-4 of three groups were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The relationship between the expression of IFN-γ, IL-6 and IL-4 in MM patients with herpes zoster infection and the severity of MM complicated with herpes zoster infection was analyzed. 
Results The levels of IFN-γ in MM group and MM complicated with herpes zoster infection group were lower than those in healthy group, while the levels of IL-6 and IL-4 were higher than those in healthy group; the level of IFN-γ in MM complicated with herpes zoster infection group was lower than that in MM group, while the levels of IL-6 and IL-4 were higher than those in MM group, suggesting significant differences(P＜0.05). The level of IFN-γ in patients with severe and moderate herpes zoster was lower than that in patients with mild herpes zoster infection, while the levels of IL-6 and IL-4 were higher than those in patients with mild herpes zoster infection; The level of IFN-γ in patients with severe herpes zoster was lower than that in patients with moderate herpes zoster, while the levels of IL-6 and IL-4 were higher than those in patients with moderate herpes zoster, and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05). Correlation analysis showed that IFN-γ was negatively correlated with the severity of MM complicated with herpes zoste rinfection, while IL-6 and IL-4 were positively correlated with the severity of MM complicated with herpes zoster infection(P＜0.05). Logistic regression model analysis showed that IFN-γ, IL-6 and IL-4 were the risk factors of MM complicated with herpes zoster infection. IFN-γ was negatively correlated with IL-6 and positively correlated with IL-4, and IL-6 was positively correlated with IL-4(P＜0.05). The diagnostic value of the three in combination in MM complicated with herpes zoster infection was higher than that of IFN-γ, IL-6 and IL-4 alone(P＜0.05). 
Conclusion The decreased expression of IFN-γ and increased expression of IL-6 and IL-4 can aggravate the abnormal immune function and inflammatory response of MM patients with herpes zoster infection. In clinical practice, changes in the levels of IFN-γ, IL-6 and IL-4 can be used to judge the severity of MM complicated with herpes zoster infection.

Key words: multiple myeloma, zoster, interferon γ, interleukins