The Value of Admission Serum IL-8 Monitoring and the Correlation with IL-8 (-251A/T) Polymorphism in Critically Ill Patients

Background . The clinical management of sepsis is a highly complicated process. Disruption of the immune system explains in part the major variation in sepsis outcome. IL-8 is a proinflammatory cytokine, genetic polymorphism of this cytokine could explain the outcome of sepsis. The present study was conducted to determine the value of serum IL-8 monitoring and its (-251A/T) genetic polymorphism in critically ill patients. Patients and Methods . 180 critically ill patients were allocated into two groups, 90 septic patients (sepsis group) and 90 nonseptic patients (SIRS group). Admission serum IL-8 and its (-251A/T) mutant allele were detected. Results . The admission mean value of serum IL-8 was significantly elevated in sepsis group. In both groups, the mean value of serum IL-8 in nonsurvived patients and patients with IL-8 (-251A/T) mutant allele was significantly higher. A positive correlation of survival and IL-8 (-251A/T) mutant allele was detected in both groups. The serum IL-8 distinguished wild from IL-8 (-251A/T) mutant allele at a cut-off value of 600 pg/mL. Conclusion . The admission mean value of serum IL-8 was significantly elevated in septic, nonsurvived, and patients with IL-8 (-251A/T) mutant alleles. A positive correlation of survival and IL-8 (-251A/T) mutant allele patients was detected.