Cytokine levels in patients with brucellosis and their relations with the treatment.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the serum levels of proinflammatory and some of the Th1/Th2 cytokines in brucellosis and their alterations with treatment and outcome.


METHODS
Twenty-eight acute and seven subacute brucellosis patients diagnosed clinically were included in the study. Twenty healthy volunteers were also included. Brucella standard tube agglutination tests and blood culture were conducted on all subjects. Cytokine levels of pre- and post-treatment period serum samples were measured by ELISA.


RESULTS
The mean serum levels of IL-6, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha were significantly higher in brucellosis patients compared to the control group ( P < 0.05). No significant differences were found between patient and control groups in terms of IL-1beta , TGF-beta 1, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-8 levels. There was a positive correlation between IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels with CRP levels. IL-6, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha levels measured after treatment were statistically significantly lower than pre-treatment values ( P < 0.001). No differences were found in the levels of these cytokines between acute and subacute patients' sera. IL-6, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha levels were higher in acute or subacute brucellosis patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the levels of the cytokines were decreased significantly with effective and adequate treatment these alterations did not correlate with the extent or activity of the disease.
Akbulut
H
H
Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Firat University, 23119, Elazig, Turkey. handanakbulut@yahoo.com
Celik
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I
Akbulut
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002002:Brucella / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D002097:C-Reactive Protein