[Proinflammatory cytokines in children with acute enteric infections caused by enterobacteria]

The levels of the proinflammatory cytokines including interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) was investigated in 73 children in the age range from 3 to 17 years with slight and medium-heavy diarrheal illness caused by pathogenic and conditionally pathogenic entrobacteria. Strong positive correlation was found between: the levels of IL-1beta, TNF-alpha and intoxication rate (r=0.65 and r=0.49); height of temperature and duration of fever (r=0.86 and r=0.66); dyspepsia (r=0.48 and r=0.41); diarrhea (r=0.37 and r=0.54) and changes in blood including number of leucocytes (r=0.40 and r=0.52) and level of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (r=0.65 and r=0.52). Medium positive relationship between the level of IL-6 and intoxication rate (r=0.40 and r=0.52), height of temperature and duration of fever (r=0.45), changes in blood including ESR (r=0.42) and number of leucocytes (r=0.46) was shown. There was a strong positive correlation between IL-1beta and TNF-alpha (r=0.74), between IL-6 and TNF-alpha (r=0.71) and a medium positive correlation between IL-1beta and IL-6 (r=0.61). Considerable decrease in concentration of all cytokines during early period of convalescent at disease with no complications was revealed. Change in concentration of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha determines both intoxication rate and fever. High level of IL-6 is related with complications and lingering course of disease.