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Title: Sequential changes in plasma cytokine and endotoxin levels in cirrhotic patients with bacterial infection. Author: Wang SS, Lee FY, Chan CC, Lu RH, Chao Y, Lin HC, Wu SL, Tsai YT, Lee SD. Journal: Clin Sci (Lond); 2000 Apr; 98(4):419-25. PubMed ID: 10731475. Abstract: To delineate the clinical roles of plasma cytokine or endotoxin levels in the natural course of infection in patients with decompensated cirrhosis, 66 cirrhotic patients were studied within a 1.5-year period. Plasma levels of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), IL-6, IL-8 and endotoxin were determined on days 1, 4 and 7 after admission when hospital infection was suspected and 4 months later. A total of 24 patients (36.4%) were proven to be infected during hospitalization (group A), while 42 others were not infected (group B). Fever occurred in a very high proportion (22/24) of group A patients. Baseline levels of TNF-alpha (37.7+/-15.2 compared with 8.7+/-1.2 pg/ml; P<0.01) and IL-6 (180.5+/-20.5 compared with 24.6+/-7.5 pg/ml; P<0.0001) were higher in group A patients, while IL-1beta, IL-8 and endotoxin levels were not significantly different between the two groups. For patients with hospital infection, IL-6 levels determined during the episode were significantly higher than baseline levels. Using IL-6 >80 pg/ml as a baseline cut-off level to diagnose bacterial infection, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 87.5, 100 and 95.5% respectively. The one-year cumulative probability of mortality (61.1% compared with 23.7%; P<0.001) and of bacterial re-infection (72.2% compared with 18.4%; P<0.0001) was higher in group A than in group B. Plasma TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels determined at 4 months were not different between the two groups. In conclusion, fever or elevated plasma IL-6 levels in patients with decompensated cirrhosis calls for early antibiotic treatment to prevent life-threatening bacterial infection. Bacterial infection is likely to recur in those patients with increased IL-6 levels, while severe episodes of infection occur in patients with increased TNF-alpha levels.[Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]