Erschienen in:
01.12.2011 | Original Article
Clinical implications of interleukin-18 levels in pediatric patients with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia
verfasst von:
Tomohiro Oishi, Mitsuo Narita, Kou Matsui, Takahiro Shirai, Mai Matsuo, Jun Negishi, Takayuki Kaneko, Shinya Tsukano, Tetsuo Taguchi, Makoto Uchiyama
Erschienen in:
Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy
|
Ausgabe 6/2011
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Abstract
The immunological pathogenesis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia is known to involve several cytokines. The serum levels of interleukin-18 (IL-18) were examined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 23 pediatric patients (median age 6 years; range 4–13 years; 14 girls and 9 boys) with M. pneumoniae pneumonia admitted to our hospital. Serum levels of IL-18 ranged from 22 to 1808 pg/ml with a mean of 543 pg/ml. We started steroid therapy in two cases with IL-18 values greater than 1000 pg/ml without being aware of IL-18 levels. Examination of associations between IL-18 levels determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and a routine laboratory test showed that levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and IL-18 were significantly correlated. To determine the appropriateness of steroid administration in M. pneumoniae pneumonia patients, serum LDH should be examined. Patients with elevated levels of LDH are likely to have significantly elevated IL-18 values (≥1000 pg/ml) and thus can be candidates for steroid therapy.