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Interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 in the urine of children with acute pyelonephritis
K Tullus1, O Fituri, L G Burman
1Department of Paediatrics, St. Göran's Children's Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Insights
Urinary interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) are elevated in children with acute pyelonephritis. These cytokine levels can help diagnose kidney infections in pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nephrology
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Serious bacterial infections trigger inflammatory responses mediated by cytokines.
- Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) are key players in inflammation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate urinary IL-6 and IL-8 levels in children with acute pyelonephritis.
- To compare cytokine levels in infected children with non-renal febrile and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Measured urinary IL-6 and IL-8 concentrations standardized for creatinine.
- Analyzed samples from children during and after pyelonephritis, and from control groups.
Main Results:
- IL-6 detected in 52% of pyelonephritis cases vs. 15% of controls (P < 0.001).
- IL-8 detected in 98% of pyelonephritis cases vs. 42% of controls (P < 0.001).
- Significantly higher median urinary IL-6 and IL-8 levels in pyelonephritis patients.
Conclusions:
- Urinary IL-6 and IL-8 are significantly elevated in children with acute pyelonephritis.
- These cytokines show potential as biomarkers for diagnosing pediatric kidney infections.
- Higher IL-8 levels were observed in infants under one year old.
Abstract:
Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) are important mediators of the inflammatory response in serious bacterial infections. We studied the levels of these two cytokines (standardised for urinary creatinine) in the urine of infants and children during and 6 weeks after acute pyelonephritis and in non-renal febrile controls and healthy children without apparent infection. IL-6 was detected in the urine of 52% of children with pyelonephritis compared with 15% of other children (P < 0.001). The median urinary IL-6 level in acute pyelonephritis was 4 pg/mumol compared with undetectable levels in the control group (P < 0.001). IL-8 was detected in 98% of children with pyelonephritis and 42% of other children (P < 0.001). The median concentration of IL-8 was 188 pg/mumol in pyelonephritis; it was undetectable in controls (P < 0.001). IL-8 levels were higher in children less than 1 year of age (P < 0.001).