title: Accuracy of serum interleukin (IL)-6 in sepsis diagnosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To systematic review and estimate the accuracy of Interleukin 6 assay in the diagnosis of sepsis by meta-analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  With the aim to confirm this correlation, this paper performed a meta-analysis of 6 studies and the Sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), and negative likelihood ratio (NLR) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) of each study were calculated and the pooled sensitivity was calculate using Random Effects Model and Summary receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The pooled sensitivity for the diagnosis of sepsis was 80% (95% CI, 77% to 83%) and the specificity of 85% (95% CI, 81% to 88%). For sepsis versus health or infection, the area under the curve was 0.868. In neonate subgroup, IL-6 had a pooled sensitivity of 77.0% (95% CI, 73.0% to 81.0%) and specificity of 91.0% (95% CI, 86.0% to 94.0%) for sepsis diagnosis. In adult, IL-6 had a pooled sensitivity of 85.0% (95% CI, 80.0% to 88.0%) and specificity of 62.0% (95% CI, 55.0% to 68.0%) to identify sepsis. The AUC was 81.0%, and Q was 0.74.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IL6 is a highly accurate diagnostic modality for the identification of sepsis, with promise for integration into routine imaging protocols for thyroid nodules.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Guangdong General Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences NO. 106 Zhongshan Er Road, Guangzhou 510080, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Tieying
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.affiliation: Guangzhou Hospital of TCM NO. 16 Zhuji Road, Liwan, Guangzhou 510080, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Dehong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: ICU, Cardiovascular Surgery Intensive Care Unit of Guangdong, Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong General Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences NO. 106 Zhongshan Er Road, Guangzhou 510080, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Guangdong General Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences NO. 106 Zhongshan Er Road, Guangzhou 510080, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Zhiming
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Guangdong General Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences NO. 106 Zhongshan Er Road, Guangzhou 510080, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
keywords: IL-6; SROC; Sepsis; diagnosis; meta-analysis