Interleukin-6andinterleukin-8 as predictors of chronic lung disease in premature infant

Background:Improved survival from advances in neonatal care has resulted inan increased number of infants at risk for chronic lung disease (CLD). Pro-inflammatory cytokines such asinterleukins (IL)-6 and (IL)-8 play an importantrole in the inflammatory response to neonatal airway injury.In order to predict the late-development of CLD, cytokines in the blood samples were assessed in this study. Materials and Methods:IL6 and IL8 were measured in 45infants developing CLD in blood samples obtainedat 24 hours, 72 hoursand 1 week ofage. The normal range was established in blood samples of 59 consecutivehealthy pre-term infants. Cytokineconcentrations were quantified in duplicate using commerciallyavailable sandwich ELISA kits. Results:High initial levels of IL6 and IL8(first 24 h postnatal age) obtained in infantsdeveloping CLDindicate that this cytokines are not only markers but also initiators of inflammatory reaction. A persistent significant elevation of IL8 concentration in CLDgroup results with double increased levels at the end of the first week of life (799.2±122.8pg/ml). The obtained valuesshowed significantnegative correlation with gestational ageofthe newborns (IL6, r= -0.751 and IL8, r= -0.659; p<0.001) andsignificant positive correlation to duration of mechanical ventilation(IL6, r=0.837and IL8, r=0.704; p<0.001). Conclusion:The determination of pro-inflammatory cytokines in blood can be usefulin identifying babies at high risk for CLD and in devising newstrategies to ameliorate perinatal outcome. Key words: Chronic lung disease, Interleukin-6, Interleukin-8