Interleukin-6, interleukin-8, interleukin-10, and C-reactive protein in febrile neutropenia in children with malignant diseases

Folia Med (Plovdiv). 2005;47(3-4):46-52.

Abstract

Aim: To compare serum levels of interleukin-6, interleukin-8 and interleukin-10 in bacteremic and non-bacteremic episodes of febrile neutropenia in children with malignant diseases, and determine their changes and correlation with C-reactive protein (CRP).

Material and methods: Between January 2003 and June 2004, we examined 41 episodes of febrile neutropenia in 24 children with malignant diseases who were receiving polychemotherapy. C-reactive protein was measured at the onset of febrile episodes and on days 3 and 5 from beginning of therapy. The soluble interleukins-6, -8, and -10 were determined in the serum using enzyme bound immunosorbent analysis at the onset of fever and at 24 and 72 hours after initiation of an empiric antibiotic therapy.

Results: The CRP baseline levels differentiated the patients with unexplained fever from those with local infection but did not differentiate them from those with bacteremia. Interleukin-8 at 24 hours differentiated bacteremic from non-bacteremic episodes (P < 0.05) and at a cut-off value of 130 pg/ml it had a sensitivity of 72% and a specificity of 84% to differentiate bacteremia. Interleukin-10 at 24 hours yielded higher values in Gram (-) bacteremia in comparison with the non-bacteremic episodes (P < 0.001) and Gram (+) bacteremia (P < 0.05). Interleukin-6 at 24 hours had significantly higher values in febrile episodes of more than 3 days duration (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: Interleukin-8 could differentiate in the first 24 hours bacteremic from non-bacteremic episodes in febrile neutropenia, while interleukin-10 is perhaps a more accurate marker for Gram (-) bacteremia.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Bacteremia / etiology
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • C-Reactive Protein / metabolism*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Fever / blood
  • Fever / complications
  • Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / diagnosis
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / diagnosis
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Interleukin-10 / blood*
  • Interleukin-6 / blood*
  • Interleukin-8 / blood*
  • Male
  • Neoplasms / blood*
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Neutropenia / blood*
  • Neutropenia / complications
  • Statistics, Nonparametric

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Interleukin-6
  • Interleukin-8
  • Interleukin-10
  • C-Reactive Protein