INTERLEUKIN (IL)-6 AND IL-8 IN CHILDREN WITH FEBRILE URINARY-TRACT INFECTION AND ASYMPTOMATIC BACTERIURIA

Urine and serum interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 responses were higher in c hildren with febrile urinary tract infection (n = 61) than in those wi th asymptomatic batteriuria (n = 39). By univariate analysis, cytokine levels were related to age, sex, reflux, renal scarring, urine leukoc ytes, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and bacterial properties (P fimbriae but not hemolysin). Multivariate modeling showed that urine IL-6 responses were higher in girls than bo ys, increased with age, and were positively associated with CRP, ESR, serum IL-6, and urine leukocyte counts. The urine IL-8 response was no t influenced by age, but it was influenced by P fimbriae and was assoc iated with ESR, CRP, urine leukocytes, and female sex, The results sho w that cytokine responses to urinary tract infection vary with the sev erity of infection and that cytokine activation is influenced by a var iety of host and bacterial variables.