title: Tumour necrosis factor, interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein in patients with louse-borne relapsing fever in Ethiopia.
abstract: The serum concentrations of tumour necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were studied in 25 patients with louse-borne relapsing fever, to evaluate their association with the level of bacteraemia, anti-borrelia chemotherapy and the presence of a Jarish-Herxheimer reaction (JHR). Although there was an association between the level of bacteraemia and the development of JHR and complications during treatment, TNF, IL-6 and CRP concentrations were not associated with the JHR. TNF concentrations increased after the administration of antibiotics and remained high for 24 h. IL-6 was elevated on admission but soon decreased. CRP was high on admission and remained so throughout the illness. The observed elevations in TNF, IL-6 and CRP may be associated more with the administration of antibiotics than with the presence of a JHR.
authors.affiliation: Tropical Medical Microbiology Centre, School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, U.K.
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Cuevas
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Borgnolo
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hailu
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Almaviva
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Hart
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001898:Borrelia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D002701:Chloramphenicol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005002:Ethiopia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008003:Phthiraptera; D012061:Relapsing Fever / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002701:Chloramphenicol; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D013752:Tetracycline