Concentrations of interleukin (IL)-6, soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R), and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor (sTNFR) p55 and p75 were measured in 25 patients with sepsis syndrome. Sequential blood samples were drawn from patients during a 7-h period. IL-6 concentrations were 34-763,000 pg/mL; they were higher in nonsurvivors than survivors, but the difference was not statistically significant. In septic patients, the median sIL-6R concentration was significantly lower than in 19 healthy volunteers (43 vs. 80 ng/mL). sIL-6R concentrations in survivors were not significantly different than those in nonsurvivors. There was a negative correlation between IL-6 and sIL-6R in septic patients (r = -.72). In patients with moderately impaired renal function, sIL-6R levels were not affected, but the concentrations of sTNFRs were significantly higher.