Abstract
ABSTRACT: Tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 are thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of sepsis with gram-negative bacteria. We studied these cytokines during neonatal sepsis with mainly gram-positive bacteria. Ten newborns with clinical sepsis and 22 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. TNFα plasma levels proved to be increased in the newborns with sepsis up to 560 ± 234 pg/mL (ng/L)versus 36 ± 4 pg/mL (ng/L) in the control group (p < 0.005), whereas IL-6 plasma levels in newborns with sepsis were 79.700 ± 37.500 pg/mL (ng/L) versus 55 ± 28 pg/mL (ng/L) in the control group (p < 0.01). The IL-1β plasma levels were only slightly elevated in the group newborns with sepsis [up to 18 ± 5 pg/mL (ng/L)versus 7 ± 1 pg/mL (ng/L) in the control group (p < 0.01)]. After the start of therapy with antibiotics, both TNF α and IL-6 plasma levels decreased concomitantly with the improvement of the clinical situation within 2 d. These data confirm the abundant presence of TNF α and IL-6 during neonatal sepsis, whereas IL-1 β appeared to be present in small amounts only. Nevertheless, the IL-1 β but not the TNF αplasma level appeared to correlate inversely with the decrease in diastolic tension as standardized according to birth weight (R = 0.66,p = 0.04). TNF α, IL-1 β, and IL-6 were not correlated with any febrile response in the group with sepsis. Inasmuch as only moderate temperature increases were seen in these patients, we hypothesize that a low IL-1 β plasma level may explain the lack of a febrile response during neonatal sepsis.
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De Bont, E., Martens, A., Van Raan, J. et al. Tumor Necrosis Factor-α, Interleukin-1β, and Interleukin-6 Plasma Levels in Neonatal Sepsis. Pediatr Res 33, 380–383 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199304000-00013
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199304000-00013