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. 1997 Nov;77(3):F198–F201. doi: 10.1136/fn.77.3.f198

Early increase of TNFα and IL-6 in tracheobronchial aspirate fluid indicator of subsequent chronic lung disease in preterm infants

B Jonsson, K Tullus, A Brauner, Y Lu, G Noack
PMCID: PMC1720706  PMID: 9462189

Abstract

AIM—To investigate if early changes in concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines in tracheobronchial aspirate fluid (TAF) from preterm infants could be used to detect infants at risk of chronic lung disease (CLD) and help in the selection of patients for early steroid treatment.
METHODS—Twenty eight preterm infants less than 34 weeks of gestation (median 26 weeks) were intubated and daily measurements of TAF concentrations of tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) and the interleukins IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 were made, using enzyme immunoassay techniques.
RESULTS—Seventeen of the infants developed CLD. The infants who developed CLD had significantly increased concentrations of TNFα, IL-1ß, IL-6 on days 2 and 3. TNFα, IL-6, and IL-8 concentrations were significantly related to gestational age and duration of supplemental oxygen; TNFα, IL-6, and IL-8 concentrations also correlated with length of time on the ventilator.
CONCLUSION—These data indicate that tracheobronchial aspirate fluid cytokine concentrations may be used as a predictor of subsequent CLD and may help select a group of preterm infants at high risk of developing CLD for early treatment.

 Keywords: cytokines; chronic lung disease; tracheobronchial aspirate fluid; mechanical ventilation

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Figure 1  .

Figure 1  

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TAF fluid concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines in infants who subsequently developed CLD and infants with uncomplicated RDS (shaded area). Bars indicate mean values with 95% confidence intervals, on separate days. (A) TNFα concentrations: *denotes p<0.05 on days 2 and 3 between CLD and RDS infants; + p>0.05 on days 6 and 7 compared with days 2 and 3 for CLD infants. (B) IL-1β antigen titres:*p <0.05 between RDS and CLD infants on day 2. (C) IL 6 concentrations: *p<0.05 on days 2 and 3 between the two groups of infants. (D) IL 8 concentrations

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