title: Postoperative changes in resting energy expenditure and interleukin 6 level in infants.
abstract: The relationship was determined between resting energy expenditure (REE) and interleukin (IL)6 level following surgery in infants. Sixteen infants of mean(s.e.m.) weight 3.2(0.2) kg undergoing uncomplicated surgery were studied. The operative stress score was recorded and plasma IL-6 levels were measured before and 4, 8, 12 and 24 h after surgery. Respiratory gas exchange was measured by indirect calorimetry before and at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 24 and 48 h. Urinary nitrogen excretion was measured and calculated. IL-6 levels increased significantly after surgery (P = 0.006) and were maximal at 12 h. There was a linear correlation between the increase in IL-6 level and operative severity score (r = 0.61, P = 0.012). REE increased significantly after operation (P < 0.001), peaking at 2-4 h, and returned to baseline levels by 12 h. The changes in REE preceded those in IL-6. IL-6 is a marker of the stress response in infants and may play a role in the subsequent modulation of this response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Health, University of Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pierro
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Hashim
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shenkin
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Lloyd
mesh_terms: D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000378:metabolism; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D002097:C-Reactive Protein