Aumento de interleuquinas proinflamatorias y de cortisol plasmático en bronquiolitis por virus respiratorio sincicial: relación con la gravedad de la infección

Resumen

LEVELS OF INFLAMMATORY CYTOKINES AND PLASMA CORTISOL IN RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS BRONCHIOLITIS

Background:  An increased inflammatory innate response may play a role in pathogenesis of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. Aim: To quantify pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6-IL-8, IL-1-? and TNF-?) in nasopharyngeal aspirate (NPA) and plasma, and plasma cortisol in previously healthy infants with RSV bronchiolitis. Patients and methods: We studied 49 infants aged less than one year of age with RSV bronchiolitis and 25 healthy controls. Severity was defined using a previously described modified score. We quantified interleukins in NPA and plasma by flow cytometry and plasma cortisol by radioimmunoanalysis. Results: Among patients with RSV bronchiolitis, 25 were classified as severe and 24 as moderate or mild. Significantly higher levels of IL-6 and IL-8 in NPA and plasma and IL-1? in NPA were found in children classified as severe, when compared to those with moderate or mild disease and controls. There was a positive correlation between IL-6 and cortisol in plasma (r=0.55; p<0.0001) and both were correlated with the severity of the disease. Conclusions: RSV bronchiolitis severity was associated with higher levels of inflammatory interleukins and plasma cortisol.