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Serum alpha interferon in children with right iliac fossa pain
Y W Chia1, R Carachi, A A Armstrong
1Department of Paediatric Surgery, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Yorkhill, Glasgow, Scotland.
Insights
Serum alpha-interferon levels were elevated in children with non-specific abdominal pain, not appendicitis. This finding in pediatric right iliac fossa pain warrants further research for potential diagnostic use.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Immunology
- Surgical Diagnostics
Background:
- Right iliac fossa pain is a common pediatric presentation.
- Distinguishing acute appendicitis from other causes of abdominal pain can be challenging.
- Alpha-interferon is a cytokine involved in immune responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate serum alpha-interferon levels in children presenting with right iliac fossa pain.
- To compare these levels between children with and without acute appendicitis.
- To explore the potential diagnostic utility of alpha-interferon in pediatric abdominal pain.
Main Methods:
- Serum samples were collected from 50 consecutive children admitted with right iliac fossa pain.
- Serum alpha-interferon levels were measured.
- Levels were compared between groups: histologically confirmed acute appendicitis, non-specific abdominal pain, and normal controls.
Main Results:
- Serum alpha-interferon levels were significantly higher in children without acute appendicitis (33%) compared to those with appendicitis (5.7%).
- Elevated levels were also observed in normal controls (9%), but less frequently than in the non-appendicitis group.
- A notable percentage of children with non-specific abdominal pain showed raised alpha-interferon levels.
Conclusions:
- Elevated serum alpha-interferon may be associated with non-specific abdominal pain in children, rather than acute appendicitis.
- This phenomenon requires further investigation in larger cohorts.
- Alpha-interferon could potentially serve as a biomarker to aid in the diagnosis of non-specific abdominal pain in pediatric patients.
Abstract:
Serum alpha-interferon levels were analysed in 50 consecutive children admitted with right iliac fossa pain. Serum alpha-interferon levels were significantly raised in 33% of children without acute appendicitis when compared to 5.7% of children with histologically proven acute appendicitis and 9% of normal controls. This interesting phenomenon needs further investigation. A larger series may show it to be of clinical use in non-specific abdominal pain in childhood.