title: Serum levels of IL-1 beta, sIL-2R, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-alpha in febrile children with cancer and neutropenia.
abstract: Serum levels of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1beta), soluble interleukin 2 receptors (sIL-2R), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were measured to predict some characteristics of febrile episodes in children with cancer and neutropenia. Forty-eight episodes of febrile neutropenia were determined in 23 pediatric cancer patients, including 35 febrile episodes without identifiable source, 7 episodes of bacteremia due to Gram-negative organisms and 4 due to Gram-positive organisms, and 2 fungal infections. Interleukin-6, sIL-2R, and IL-8 levels were significantly higher at the beginning of the febrile episodes than those of controls (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001). Interleukin-6, slL-2R, and IL-8 levels were higher in patients with bacteremia due to Gram-negative organisms than in those with Gram-positive ones (p = 0.042, p = 0.006, and p = 0.023, respectively). TNF-alpha and IL-1beta levels were similar in febrile episodes and controls (p > 0.05). In conclusion, sIL-2R, IL-6, and IL-8 levels may be helpful in the prediction of infection in febrile cancer patients with neutropenia and measurements of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha were not useful for identifying the presence and the type of infection in febrile neutropenic episodes in children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Dicle, Diyarbakir, Turkey. sokerm@hotmail.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soker
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Colpan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ece
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Devecioğlu
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Haspolat
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications*; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines