Neisseria meningitidis strains and clinical parameters of IMD	TNF-α (ng/mL)	IL-1β (ng/mL)	IL-6 (ng/mL)
137/05 group C strain	3,724	5,844	8,071
(C:NT:P1.2,5; ST-11 HC) M+S, APACHE 14, SOFA 3, moderate course	±1,326	±3,556	±7,138
285/05 group B strain	13,540	18,773	45,319
(B:1:NST; ST-41/44 complex) M+S, APACHE 10, SOFA 4, mild course	±4,038	±4,223	±14,563
113/04 group B strain	10,908	15,661	37,123
(B:22:P1.14; ST-18 HC) SS+WFS, APACHE 25, SOFA 12, severe course	±3,043	±6,283	±14,575
109/05 group B strain	3,399	6,664	10,493
(B:NT:NST; ST-919, not HC) M+S, APACHE 17, SOFA 6, mild course	±1,999	±4,290	±7,686
171/05 group B strain	14,043	19,862	46,854
(B:15:P1.4; ST-5126, not HC) M, APACHE 11, SOFA 3, mild course	±4,103	±9,660	±14,629

HC: hypervirulent complex; IMD: invasive meningococcal disease; M: meningitis;

S: sepsis; SS: septic shock; WFS: Waterhouse–Friderichsen syndrome.

Data are expressed as mean±SD.