Newborn patients exhibit an unusual pattern of interleukin 10 and interferon gamma serum levels in response to cardiac surgery.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine the clinical significance of serum levels of interleukin 10 and interferon gamma in pediatric patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass.


METHODS
We divided the patients into 2 groups: 8 neonates and 19 non-newborn children. Interleukin 10 and interferon gamma serum levels were quantified before sternotomy, at admission to the pediatric intensive care unit (30 minutes postoperatively), 24 hours after the onset of the operation, and 3 days after the operation.


RESULTS
Newborn patients displayed significantly greater amounts of serum interleukin 10 than older children, not only in regard to the peak level achieved but also at every postoperative time point analyzed. In contrast, no significant changes in interferon gamma serum levels were observed in neonates at any time point, whereas non-newborn pediatric patients showed a significant increase in interferon gamma serum concentrations immediately after the operation. This unusual pattern of cytokine response in newborn patients was not associated with modifications in cortisol serum levels. Furthermore, although neonates had significantly different surgical and clinical variables than did the non-newborn pediatric patients, the variation in interleukin 10 production in neonates could not be accounted for by differences in the magnitude of surgical injury. In the group of neonates, there were significant positive correlations between peak interleukin 10 serum levels and both partial pressure of arterial oxygen/fraction of inspired oxygen ratio and postoperative body weight gain.


CONCLUSIONS
Newborn patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass exhibit a distinctive biologic response pattern characterized by high levels of serum interleukin 10 without changes in serum interferon gamma. This cytokine imbalance could have potential clinical implications.
Alcaraz
A J
AJ
Department of Pediatrics and Pediatric Surgery, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.
Sancho
L
L
Manzano
L
L
Esquivel
F
F
Carrillo
A
A
Prieto
A
A
Bernstein
E D
ED
Alvarez-Mon
M
M
D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D005260:Female; D006345:Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D014188:Transposition of Great Vessels / Q000601:surgery
D016753:Interleukin-10; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D006854:Hydrocortisone