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Elevation in interleukin 13 levels in patients diagnosed with systemic inflammatory response syndrome

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Abstract

Objective

To examine plasma levels and circadian rhythm of interleukin 13 (IL-13), tumour necrosis factor (TNF) α and total serum cortisol in the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS).

Design and setting

Prospective observational study in a 12-bed medical-surgical ICU of a 500-bed university hospital.

Patients

Ten patients with SIRS and eight controls.

Measurements

Arterial blood was sampled hourly for 24 h for measurement of plasma IL-13, TNF- α, cortisol and white blood cell count (WCC) differential within 24 h of development of SIRS.

Results

There were significantly higher plasma IL-13 levels in SIRS patients than in controls (1282 vs. 713 pg/ml). IL-13 was significantly higher in patients with a diagnosis of sepsis than in those with non-infectious causes of SIRS (2080 vs. 515 pg/ml). In SIRS the elevation in IL-13 was associated with higher TNF-α and reduced WCC. A circadian rhythm was observed in plasma IL-13 secretion. No distinct circadian rhythm was noted for TNF- α, and the normal circadian rhythm of serum cortisol was lost.

Conclusions

The anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-13 is elevated in early SIRS. Its plasma level exhibits a circadian rhythm and may be modulated in part by TNF-α. SIRS patients have disruption of the normal circadian rhythm of serum cortisol.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance of following persons: the medical and nursing staff of the ICU of Canberra Hospital, for study execution; Dr. Heidi Blain, for initial protocol preparation; Gillian Turner, Rajabi Payne and Joy Whiting for data collection and patient recruitment. The authors also thank Dr. Iain Robertson, Biostatistician, Clifford Craig Medical Research Trust, Launceston General Hospital, Tasmania, for statistical advice.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, ACT 2601, Canberra, Australia

    Luis A. Socha, Diego Silva & Manuel Correcha

  2. Intensive Care Unit, Launceston General Hospital, TAS 7250, Launceston, Australia

    John Gowardman

  3. Intensive Care Unit, Canberra Hospital, ACT 2605, Canberra, Australia

    John Gowardman

  4. Department of Endocrinology, Flinders Medical Centre, SA 5042, Adelaide, Australia

    Nikolai Petrosky

Authors
  1. Luis A. Socha
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  2. John Gowardman
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  3. Diego Silva
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  4. Manuel Correcha
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  5. Nikolai Petrosky
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to John Gowardman.

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Socha, L.A., Gowardman, J., Silva, D. et al. Elevation in interleukin 13 levels in patients diagnosed with systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Intensive Care Med 32, 244–250 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-005-0020-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-005-0020-6

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