title: Pro-inflammatory cytokines IL6, TNF-alpha, IL1beta, procalcitonin, lipopolysaccharide binding protein and C-reactive protein in infective endocarditis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the serum levels and diagnostic value of cytokines and acute phase proteins in patients with infective endocarditis (IE).
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum samples from 63 patients diagnosed with IE and 71 control patients were analysed for the following markers: interleukin-6 (IL6), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin 1-beta (IL1beta), procalcitonin (PCT), lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) and C-reactive protein (CRP).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum levels of IL6, IL1beta and CRP were significantly elevated in patients with IE as compared to controls. PCT, TNF-alpha and LBP were not elevated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum CRP and IL6 are elevated in IE. IL 6 may aid in establishing the diagnosis. There was no correlation between IL 6 levels and CRP, causative microorganism, echocardiographic features or outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK. richard.watkin@heartofengland.nhs.uk <richard.watkin@heartofengland.nhs.uk>
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Watkin
authors.forename: L V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Harper
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Vernallis
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ranasinghe
authors.forename: T S J
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Elliott
mesh_terms: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D004696:Endocarditis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000097:blood*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*; D000099231:Lipopolysaccharide-Binding Protein
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002116:Calcitonin; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011498:Protein Precursors; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000099231:Lipopolysaccharide-Binding Protein; C000606589:CALCA protein, human