title: Cytokine levels in sputum of patients with tracheostomy and profound multiple disabilities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Airway immunopathogenesis is unclear in patients with profound multiple disabilities (PMD) who undergo tracheostomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and IL-12p70 cytokines were determined in sputum of 28 patients with PMD who underwent tracheostomy and in 14 healthy subjects, using a cytometric bead array.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The concentrations of IL-1beta, IL-6 and IL-8 in the patients were significantly higher than those in controls (p < 0.001). IL-6, and IL-8 levels in eight PMD patients in the febrile period were significantly higher than those in the afebrile period (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). Serum CRP levels were slightly elevated in 12 of the 28 patients (43%) in the afebrile period, but there were no significant differences in the level of any cytokine between patients with normal and elevated serum CRP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PMD patients with tracheostomy have chronic airway inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, National Hospital Organization Sanyo Hospital, Yamaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazutoyo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Asada
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ichiyama
authors.forename: Yumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okuda
authors.forename: Fumiko
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Okino
authors.forename: Kunio
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: Miki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nishikawa
authors.forename: Yoshitsugu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sugio
authors.forename: Susumu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Furukawa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D008297:Male; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D013183:Sputum / Q000276:immunology*; D014132:Trachea / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014139:Tracheostomy
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D002097:C-Reactive Protein