title: Correlation between serum IL-6 and CRP levels and severity of head injury in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) release in children with head injury (HI) and investigate if there is a correlation between the levels of these two proteins and the severity of HI.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective clinical investigation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight-bed paediatric intensive care unit in a university hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-five children were followed up for 4 days after HI and their serum IL-6 and CRP levels were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Peak serum IL-6 levels occurred 4 h postinjury, decreasing over time. CRP was normal 4 h after injury, then increased reaching peak levels in 48 h. Children with admission Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores of 8 or less had higher IL-6 levels compared to children with GCS scores higher than 8, 4 and 12 h post-injury (p<0.01 and p<0.05, respectively). IL-6 was higher in children with admission PRISM scores of 10 or more than in those with PRISM scores lower than 10 at 4 and 12 h (p<0.05). CRP levels were higher in patients with GCS scores of 8 or less compared to patients with GCS scores higher than 8 at 24, 48 and 72 h (p<0.05, p<0.02 and p<0.02, respectively) . Patients with PRISM scores of 10 or more had higher CRP levels compared to those with PRISM scores lower than 10 at 24, 48 and 72 h (p<0.05). Peak CRP levels correlated well with peak IL-6 levels (r = 0.49, p<0.001). No correlation between IL-6 or CRP levels and mortality or clinical outcome was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum IL-6 and CRP levels are elevated in children with HI and there is a relation between the severity of HI and the levels of these proteins. There was no correlation between IL-6, CRP and outcomes of the patients.
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, P & A Kyiakou Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kalabalikis
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Papazoglou
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gouriotis
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Papadopoulos
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kardara
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Papageorgiou
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Papadatos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D002097:C-Reactive Protein