Cytokine levels in sputum of patients with tracheostomy and profound multiple disabilities.
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.
Asada
Kazutoyo
K
Department of Pediatrics, National Hospital Organization Sanyo Hospital, Yamaguchi, Japan.
Ichiyama
Takashi
T
Okuda
Yumi
Y
Okino
Fumiko
F
Hashimoto
Kunio
K
Nishikawa
Miki
M
Sugio
Yoshitsugu
Y
Furukawa
Susumu
S
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
D016207:Cytokines; D002097:C-Reactive Protein