[Clinical significance of the changes of serum interleukin-18 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels in children with infectious mononucleosis].
OBJECTIVE
To study the dynamic changes of levels of serum interleukin-18 (IL-18) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in children with infectious mononucleosis (IM).


METHODS
72 patients with IM were analyzed for the expression of TNF-alpha and IL-18 by RIA and ELISA, respectively in acute phase, convalescent phase, (the first month, the third month, the sixth month), and the control group.


RESULTS
The levels of serum TNF-alpha and IL-18 in patients with IM were significantly higher than that in control (P < 0.05). The serum levels of TNF-alpha and IL-18 decreased with time and in patients at stage were significantly higher than that in control (P < 0.05). The levels of serum cytokine were correlated with the state of illness.


CONCLUSIONS
The serum cytokine TNF-alpha and IL-18 may be regarded as index to reflect the state of immunity and prognosis of patients with IM.
Liu
Chao-zhou
CZ
Hunan Provincial Children's Hospital, Changsha, China.
Wang
Wei
W
Zhou
Yuan-da
YD
He
Hai-xia
HX
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007244:Infectious Mononucleosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*
D020382:Interleukin-18; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha