Our study aimed to verify whether patients with spine accident injury present altered plasma levels of IL-6 and whether the levels of this cytokine are related with the production of acute phase proteins which are elevated after trauma and infection. 34 subjects admitted to an Intensive Care Unit for spine injuries were examined: 26 presented fever over 38.5 degrees C and in 13 of them blood or local cultures were positive for pathogenic bacteria. IL-6, C-reactive protein (CRP), haptoglobin (HPT), alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2Mg), C3c and C4 Complement factors were determined on admission and in the course of their hospital stay. No changes in IL-6 systemic levels were present in the subjects examined and only CRP was constantly high. Although within the normal range IL-6 levels inversely correlated with fever. Our results show the difficulty to utilize the IL-6 circulating levels as prognosis parameter in patients subjected to spine accident injuries.