INTERLEUKIN-10 IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEPSIS IN TRAUMAPATIENTS

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is a potent regulator of proinflammatory cytoki nes, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha, IL-1, IL-6, and interferon -gamma. We retrospectively evaluated 66 severely injured patients for detectable plasma IL-10. The presence or absence of IL-10 was correlat ed with clinical parameters. Forty of 66 patients had detectable level s of IL-10. Plasma IL-10 was associated with admission hypotension (p < 0.01) and the development of sepsis (p < 0.05). There was no differe nce between IL-10-positive and -negative patients with respect to age, mechanism or severity of injury, blood transfusion, operative interve ntions, or the subsequent development of ARDS, hepatic dysfunction, or renal insufficiency. We conclude that IL-10 can be detected in the pl asma of some severely injured patients and that it is associated with the development of sepsis. Further investigation of the immunoregulato ry effects of IL-10 after trauma is indicated.