Cytokine profiles in children with acute intussusception in South Africa

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Immunology
• Surgical Pediatrics

Background:

• Acute intussusception (IS) is a common surgical emergency in children.
• Accurate and early diagnosis of IS is crucial for optimal patient outcomes.
• Identifying specific host markers could aid in differentiating IS from other pediatric conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify specific host immune markers for acute intussusception (IS) in children.
• To compare cytokine profiles in children with IS to those with other surgical conditions and acute gastroenteritis (AGE).
• To establish a broad cytokine profile associated with IS.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study analyzing serum cytokine levels in hospitalized children.
• Included children with acute intussusception (n=407), other surgical conditions (n=235), and acute gastroenteritis (n=68).
• Measured a range of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, and C-reactive protein (CRP).

Main Results:

• Children with IS exhibited significantly elevated levels of multiple pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8) compared to control groups.
• Elevated levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL-1RA, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13) were also observed in children with IS.
• Increased C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were noted in children with IS.

Conclusions:

• The study identified a distinct broad cytokine profile in children with acute intussusception.
• Specific pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, along with CRP, show potential as host markers for IS.
• This research is the first to present a comprehensive cytokine analysis for pediatric IS, offering diagnostic insights.