Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Use of a Central Venous Line for Fluids, Drugs and Nutrient Administration in a Mouse Model of Critical Illness
Published on: May 2, 2017
Serum cytokines and critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency
Yong Soo Kwon1, Gee Young Suh, Kyeongman Jeon
1Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Hospital, Gwangju, Republic of Korea.
Purpose:
Little information exists regarding the association of specific cytokine levels and different subgroups of patients with critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency (CIRCI).
Methods:
Data from a previous prospective study on adrenal function in the ICU were used in this study. CIRCI was diagnosed when either the basal cortisol was less than 10 μg/ml or the Δ cortisol was less than 9 μg/ml. The patients with CIRCI were further divided into a low basal cortisol (LBC) group (basal cortisol < 10 μg/ml), and low Δ cortisol (LDC) group (basal cortisol ≥ 10 μg/ml and Δ cortisol < 9 μg/ml). Serum cytokine levels were compared among the normal (NOM), LBC, and LDC groups.
Results:
The serum of 82 out of 123 (67%) patients included in the previous study was available for analysis; these patients were included in the present study. The overall incidence of CIRCI was 43.9% (36 out of 82 patients). Among patients with CIRCI, 16 (44.4%) were classified as the LBC group and 20 (55.6%) as the LDC group. The LDC group had significantly higher levels of IL-6 and IL-10 compared to both the NOM and LBC groups (p < 0.01). The LDC group also had significantly increased TNF-α (p = 0.002) compared to the LBC group. There were no significant differences in any of the cytokine levels between the NOM and LBC groups.
Conclusions:
Elevated cytokines were associated with adrenal dysfunction in a subset of patients meeting the criteria for CIRCI (normal or high basal cortisol and low Δ cortisol).
Related Concept Videos
Cushing Syndrome II: Pathophysiology
Cushing Syndrome I: Introduction
Acute Inflammation III: Local and Systemic Effects
Antiasthma Drugs: Inhaled Corticosteroids and Glucocorticoids
ICS work through a multifaceted mechanism of action. They suppress the inflammatory response caused by the proliferation of TH cells. They also reduce the transcription of the IL-2 gene, which is involved in the...
Nephrotic Syndrome III : Nursing Management
Acute Kidney Injury III: Clinical Manifestations
