title: Prognostic value of interleukin-8 in AIDS-associated Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.
abstract: Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a potent neutrophil chemoattractant and activator. Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia is associated with an accumulation of neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. Thus, we hypothesized that IL-8 is involved in the pathogenesis of P. carinii pneumonia. BAL fluid and serum were prospectively collected in 76 consecutive HIV-infected patients with a primary episode of P. carinii pneumonia, as well as in 10 healthy control subjects. Patients were found to have elevated levels of IL-8 in BAL fluid compared with control subjects (p < 0.01). Nine patients died during the course of P. carinii pneumonia. Comparing survivors with nonsurvivors, the median IL-8 level in BAL fluid was 127 (0 to 3,900) versus 584 (127 to 6,100) pg/ml (p < 0.05). Furthermore, patients with levels of IL-8 in BAL fluid greater than 90 pg/ml (i.e., greater than control subjects) had significantly worse vital prognosis (log rank test, p < 0.05). Thirteen percent required mechanical ventilation (MV). Patients requiring MV had a median IL-8 level of 396 (25 to 6,100) versus 129 (0 to 3,900) pg/ml for patients not requiring MV (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  i) IL-8 in BAL fluid correlates to the clinical severity of the pneumonia, and ii) is a predictor of mortality and severe respiratory compromise.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Benfield
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vestbo
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Junge
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Lundgren
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016209:Interleukin-8