Interleukin-1 production from peripheral blood monocytes in septic infections in children.

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) production from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC) was studied in 18 children with septic infection. IL-1 activity was measured from the supernatants of MNC cultures at various times after infection. At the acute stage of infection the IL-1 activity was low (depressed) but rose in early convalescent stage and was normalized at late control after infection. In prolonged infections lasting for 11-25 days the IL-1 activity showed further decline. Rising IL-1 production of MNC in septic infection may be regarded as a good prognostic sign, whereas a declining IL-1 activity may be suggestive of prolonged or complicated course of infection.