TITLE:
Do Cytokines Play a Role in Predicting Some Features and Outcome in Infective Endocarditis?
AUTHORS:
Maria Carmo Pereira Nunes, Izabella Rodrigues de Araújo, Andréa Teixeira de Carvalho, Letícia Alves Andrade, Marcio Henrique Lima Resende, José Luiz Padilha da Silva, Teresa Cristina Abreu Ferrari
KEYWORDS:
Infective Endocarditis; Inflammatory Cytokines; C-Reactive Protein
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Infectious Diseases,
Vol.3 No.2,
June
10,
2013
ABSTRACT: Objective: This study aimed to
measure the serum concentrations of several cytokines in patients with
infective endocarditis (IE), and correlate them with the C-reactive protein
serum levels, echocardiographic findings and infecting microorganisms. Methods: Forty-five patients with definite IE according to the Duke’s criteria were
included in the study. Ten healthy blood donors formed the control group. Serum
levels of interleukin (IL) 1β, IL-6,
IL-8, IL-10, IL-12 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were measured
and compared between the groups, and also with some clinical and laboratory
parameters of IE. Results: Patients with IE had significantly higher
serum concentrations of the inflammatory mediators than the control patients.
Median IL-12 and IL-1β levels were
higher in staphylococcal than
streptococcal IE. Except for TNF-α,
the levels of all the other cytokines correlated with the C-reactive protein
concentrations. In multivariate analysis, IL-10 and IL-12 serum levels remained
as independent factors associated with the C-reactive protein concentrations.
There was a significant correlation between IL-10 concentration and vegetation
length. Conclusion: The inflammatory serum cytokines levels were elevated
in IE in comparison to healthy controls. C-reactive protein concentrations
correlated with cytokines levels. IL-1β and IL-12 serum concentrations were higher in staphylococcal when compared to
streptococcal IE. IL-10 levels were associated with vegetation size.