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TNFα, IL-1β and IL-6 plasma levels in neutropenic patients after onset of fever and correlation with the C-reactive protein (CRP) kinetic values

TNF-α, IL-1β, und IL-6 Plasmaspiegel bei neutropenischen Patienten nach Fieberbeginn und Beziehung zur Kinetik der CRP-Werte

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Summary

Cytokines, especially tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) play an important role in the genesis and progression of the septic shock syndrome. We performed a study monitoring levels of these three cytokines in ten neutropenic oncology patients in whom an infectious syndrome was suspected. A comparison was made with a population of nine non-neutropenic patients on the intensive care unit. Unfortunately the results of this study do not allow specific profiles to be established for each cytokine in the populations studied. Levels of IL-6, TNFα and IL-1β were not statistically higher in the non-neutropenic patients when compared with the neutropenic group. However, the highest IL-6 levels were observed for four non-neutropenic patients, three of whom died. High levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), haptoglobin and fibrinogen were found, reflecting the inflammatory status of each patient. CRP levels were higher in the non-neutropenic patients and correlated with IL-6 levels, indicating the importance of CRP determination in this group of patients.

Zusammenfassung

Zytokine, vor allem Tumornekrosefaktor alpha (TNF-α), Interleukin-1 β (IL-1β) und Interleukin-6 (IL-6) spielen eine große Rolle in der Entstehung und Progression des Syndroms des septischen Schocks. Wir haben diese drei Zytokine bei zehn neutropenischen onkologischen Patienten mit Verdacht auf Infektion untersucht. Neun nicht-neutropenische Patienten einer Intensivpflegestation wurden als Kontrollen herangezogen. Leider erlauben die Ergebnisse dieser Studie keine spezifischen Profile für das jeweilige Zytokin in der untersuchten Patientengruppe. Im Vergleich zu nicht-neutropenischen Patienten fanden sich bei den neutropenischen Patienten keine signifikant höheren Spiegel von IL-6, TNF-α und IL-1β. Die höchsten IL-6 Spiegel wurden bei vier nicht neutropenischen Patienten gemessen. Drei von ihnen starben. Entsprechend dem Entzündungszustand bei den Patienten waren die Spiegel von C-reaktivem Protein (CRP), Haptoglobin und Fibrinogen hoch. Bei den nicht-neutropenischen Patienten wurden höhere CRP-Spiegel gemessen, sie korrelierten mit den IL-6 Spiegeln und weisen auf die Bedeutung der CRP-Bestimmung bei diesen Patienten hin.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Microbiologie, Hôpital Saint Louis, 1 Av. Claude Vellefaux, F-75010, Paris

    J. L. Herrmann D. Pharm., Ph. D., H. Blanchard M. D. &  P. H. Lagrange M. D., Ph. D.

  2. Laboratoire de Microbiologie, Hôpital Hôtel Dieu, 1 Place du Parvis Notre Dame, F-75004, Paris, France

    P. Brunengo D. Pharm.

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  1. J. L. Herrmann D. Pharm., Ph. D.
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  3. P. H. Lagrange M. D., Ph. D.
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Herrmann, J.L., Blanchard, H., Lagrange, P.H. et al. TNFα, IL-1β and IL-6 plasma levels in neutropenic patients after onset of fever and correlation with the C-reactive protein (CRP) kinetic values. Infection 22, 309–315 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01715533

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