He-Ping Shen1, Yong-Min Tang2, Hua Song1, Wei-Qun Xu1, Shi-Long Yang1, Xiao-Jun Xu3. 1. Division of Hematology-Oncology, Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, PR China. 2. Division of Hematology-Oncology, Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, PR China. Electronic address: y_m_tang@zju.edu.cn. 3. Division of Hematology-Oncology, Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, PR China. Electronic address: medico-xxj@163.com.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) and Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) are two types of pulmonary fungal infection that are not easy to differentiate. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of inflammatory cytokines in the differential diagnosis of IPA and PCP. METHODS: A total of 227 pediatric oncology patients diagnosed with acute pneumonia were enrolled. They were divided into three groups: IPA, PCP, and 'others'. The cytokine levels in these groups were compared, including interferon (IFN)-γ, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-10, IL-6, IL-4, and IL-2. RESULTS: Of the six cytokines, only IL-6 and IFN-γ levels were elevated in patients with acute pneumonia. IL-6 was comparable between patients with IPA and PCP (52.0 pg/ml vs. 25.8 pg/ml, p=0.092), while IFN-γ was much higher in patients with PCP (19.9 pg/ml vs. 8.9 pg/ml, p=0.001). The accuracy of IL-6 and the ratio of IL-6/IFN-γ in predicting IPA were 69.0% and 72.0%, respectively, while the accuracy of IFN-γ to predict PCP was 67.2%. IL-6 >140 pg/ml and IL-6/IFN-γ >9.0 presented specificities of 90% in predicting IPA, while IFN-γ >40 pg/ml presented specificity of 90% in predicting PCP. CONCLUSIONS: IL-6 is predominantly elevated in IPA, while IFN-γ is significantly increased in PCP. These are helpful tools for the differential diagnosis of IPA and PCP.
OBJECTIVE:Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) and Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) are two types of pulmonary fungal infection that are not easy to differentiate. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of inflammatory cytokines in the differential diagnosis of IPA and PCP. METHODS: A total of 227 pediatric oncology patients diagnosed with acute pneumonia were enrolled. They were divided into three groups: IPA, PCP, and 'others'. The cytokine levels in these groups were compared, including interferon (IFN)-γ, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-10, IL-6, IL-4, and IL-2. RESULTS: Of the six cytokines, only IL-6 and IFN-γ levels were elevated in patients with acute pneumonia. IL-6 was comparable between patients with IPA and PCP (52.0 pg/ml vs. 25.8 pg/ml, p=0.092), while IFN-γ was much higher in patients with PCP (19.9 pg/ml vs. 8.9 pg/ml, p=0.001). The accuracy of IL-6 and the ratio of IL-6/IFN-γ in predicting IPA were 69.0% and 72.0%, respectively, while the accuracy of IFN-γ to predict PCP was 67.2%. IL-6 >140 pg/ml and IL-6/IFN-γ >9.0 presented specificities of 90% in predicting IPA, while IFN-γ >40 pg/ml presented specificity of 90% in predicting PCP. CONCLUSIONS:IL-6 is predominantly elevated in IPA, while IFN-γ is significantly increased in PCP. These are helpful tools for the differential diagnosis of IPA and PCP.
Authors: Samuel M Gonçalves; Katrien Lagrou; Cláudia S Rodrigues; Cláudia F Campos; Leticia Bernal-Martínez; Fernando Rodrigues; Ricardo Silvestre; Laura Alcazar-Fuoli; Johan A Maertens; Cristina Cunha; Agostinho Carvalho Journal: Front Microbiol Date: 2017-11-29 Impact factor: 5.640