title: Role of interleukin-6 as an early marker of fat embolism syndrome: a clinical study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A few animal studies have shown that IL-6 can serve as an early marker of fat embolism syndrome. The degree to which this is true in human trauma victims is unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this clinical study, we sought to determine (1) whether elevated serum IL-6 levels at 6, 12, and 24 hours in patients with skeletal trauma were associated with the development of fat embolism syndrome (FES) within 72 hours after injury, and (2) at what time after trauma peak IL-6 levels are observed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-eight patients between 16 and 40 years old who presented to our tertiary trauma center within 6 hours of injury with long bone and/or pelvic fractures were included in this study. Serum IL-6 levels were measured at 6, 12, and 24 hours after injury. The patients were observed clinically and monitored for 72 hours for development of FES symptoms. Gurd's criteria were used to diagnose FES.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Elevated serum IL-6 levels 12 hours after trauma correlated with an increased likelihood of having FES develop; no significant relationship was observed between IL-6 levels at 6 or 24 hours and the development of FES. Patients with FES had a mean IL-6 level of 131 pg/mL, whereas those without FES had a mean IL-6 level of 72 pg/mL. Peak IL-6 levels were observed at 12 hours.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An elevated serum IL-6 level may be useful as an early marker of FES in patients with isolated skeletal trauma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level II, diagnostic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
authors: Department of Orthopaedics, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors: Shiva
authors: S
authors: Prakash
authors: Ramesh Kumar
authors: RK
authors: Sen
authors: Sujit Kumar
authors: SK
authors: Tripathy
authors: Indu Mohini
authors: IM
authors: Sen
authors: R R
authors: RR
authors: Sharma
authors: Sadhna
authors: S
authors: Sharma
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D004620:Embolism, Fat / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013577:Syndrome; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D013997:Time Factors; D014193:Trauma Centers; D015854:Up-Regulation; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C508600:IL6 protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6