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Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Pseudofracture: An Acute Peripheral Tissue Trauma Model
Published on: April 18, 2011
The early IL-6 and IL-10 response in trauma is correlated with injury severity and mortality
J Stensballe1, M Christiansen, E Tønnesen
1Department of Anaesthesia, Centre of Head and Orthopaedics, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, 9 Blegdamsvej, Copenhagen, Denmark. jakob.stensballe@rh.hosp.dk
Background:
Trauma has previously been shown to influence interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 levels, but the association of injury severity and mortality with IL-6 and IL-10 responses in the early phase of accidental trauma remains to be investigated. We wished to describe serum levels of IL-6 and IL-10 in the first 24 h after trauma and to assess the relationship with severity of injury and mortality.
Methods:
Prospective, descriptive cohort study in a Level 1 trauma centre, Copenhagen, Denmark. We included 265 consecutive adult trauma patients admitted directly from the accident scene during an 18-month period. Serum levels of IL-6 and IL-10 were measured upon arrival and at 6, 12, and 24 h after admittance using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Correlation analysis was used to assess the relationship between Injury Severity Score (ISS) and levels of IL-6 and IL-10. Analysis of variance was used to describe the IL-6 and IL-10 concentrations in relation to 30-day mortality in a mixed-effect model repeated measures analysis.
Results:
Mortality was 10.9% (29/265) at 30 days. A significant increase of both IL-6 and IL-10 concentrations was found over time, and a significant correlation was found between ISS and the levels of both IL-6 and IL-10 at all sampling points. Serum concentrations of IL-6 and IL-10 were significantly higher in patients not surviving 30 days (P<0.0001).
Conclusion:
The early systemic inflammatory response measured as IL-6 and IL-10 in serum is correlated with injury severity and 30-day mortality following trauma.
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