Plasma interleukin-6 and tumour necrosis factor levels as predictors of disease severity and outcome in necrotizing enterocolitis

Plasma tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels of 18 infants with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) were measured at the time of diagnosis or on transfer to a paediatric surgical unit. Whereas TNF levels were similar for infants managed medically (stage II, n = 8) and surgically (stage III, n = 7), IL-6 levels were significantly higher in stage III cases (mean, 3,127 pg/mL [95% CI, 1,809 to 4,445 pg/mL]) than in stage II (mean, 127 pg/mL [95% CI, 10 to 329 pg/mL]; P = .001). Neither TNF nor IL-6 level predicted eventual outcome. Plasma IL-6 may be useful as an indication for operation in NEC.