Clinical significance of changes of serum interleukin-6 content and APACHE II score in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome

Objective To investigate the correlation between serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) level and APACHE Ⅱ score in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS),and to evaluate its clinical significance. Methods Serum IL-6 level in 76 ARDS patients was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay at onset (0 h) and during the progression of ARDS (24 h, 48 h, 72 h). Dynamic APACHEⅡ score was also evaluated (0 h,24 h,48 h,72 h). Results The serum IL-6 level in ARDS patients was significantly higher than that in normal control group ( P ＜0.01),and the serum IL-6 level in death group was significantly higher than that in survival group ( P ＜0.01). The serum IL-6 level was significantly positively correlated with APACHE Ⅱ score in survival group or death group ( r =0. 746, P =0. 015 ; r =0. 683, P =0. 006). Conclusions The elevated serum IL-6 level in ARDS patients is correlated with the severity of lung injury,and appears to be a good marker to judge the prognosis of the disease combined with APACHE Ⅱ score. Key words: Interleukin-6;  Acute respiratory distress syndrome;  Systemic inflammatory response syndrome; APACHE Ⅱ score