The predictive value of interleukin-8 (IL-8) in hospitalised patients with fever and chemotherapy-induced neutropenia.
OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate whether serum Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a relevant parameter to select hospitalised patients with chemotherapy-induced neutropenic fever with low or high probability of infection.


RESULTS
90 assessable febrile episodes in 73 patients were evaluated; 46% of the febrile episodes were microbiologically documented infection (MDI), 8% clinical documented infection (CDI), and 47% fever of unknown origin (FUO). Median IL-8 level was lower in the FUO group compared to CDI and MDI (p<0.0005). In 45 of 48 episodes (94%) with CDI/MDI, IL-8 level at the start was > or =60 ng/l while in 18 of 21 episodes (86%) with IL-8 level <60 ng/l, no infectious cause was demonstrated. FUO and CDI/MDI patients with IL-8 > or =60 ng/l and responsive on antibiotic treatment showed a decline of IL-8 levels within days in contrast to non-responding patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum IL-8 level can be a useful marker to identify hospitalised FUO patients with low probability of infection.
Tromp
Yvonne H
YH
Department of Haematology, University Medical Centre Groningen, University of Groningen, PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands.
Daenen
Simon M G J
SM
Sluiter
Wim J
WJ
Vellenga
Edo
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005335:Fever of Unknown Origin / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D016209:Interleukin-8; D002097:C-Reactive Protein