Interleukin 8 in serum in granulocytopenic patients with infections.
Serum levels of interleukin 8 (IL-8) were examined in eight patients with acute myeloid leukaemia during 16 courses of chemotherapy. The patients experienced 14 episodes of fever which occurred in periods with granulocyte counts < 0.5 x 10(9)/l. Febrile episodes were classified as bacteriologically defined infection (n = 6), clinically defined infection (n = 2), and unexplained fever (n = 6). IL-8 was detected in 18/25 (72%), 2/3 (67%) and 3/7 (43%) of the serum samples in the respective groups. In contrast, IL-8 was detected in 22/90 (24%) of the samples taken when no fever was present (P < 0.00003 versus bacteriologically defined infection). The median concentration of IL-8 in samples taken during febrile episodes was 194 ng/ml (range 0-6358 ng/ml) and 0 (range 0-5392 ng/ml) on days without fever (not significant). In three patients with infections caused by, respectively, Streptococcus sanguis, Acinetobacter calcoanitratus and Candida albicans, IL-8 rose to a peak levels and declined during recovery. We conclude that IL-I is released systemically during infections with gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and Candida albicans in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia and peripheral granulocytopenia due to chemotherapy. However, IL-8 can also be detected when no sign of infection is present.
Department of Medicine, University of Trondheim, Norway.
A
A
Waage
D
D
Remick
S
S
Steinshamn
L
L
Deforge
J
J
Lamvik
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000380:Agranulocytosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood*; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000276:immunology*
D016209:Interleukin-8