FECAL INTERLEUKIN-8 AND TUMOR-NECROSIS-FACTOR-ALPHA CONCENTRATIONS INCYSTIC-FIBROSIS

Interleukin-8 (IL-8) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) conc entrations were measured in faecal samples from nine patients with cys tic fibrosis and nine healthy age matched controls. The patients were assessed with Shwachman score, apparent energy absorption, pancreatic enzyme dosage, simple spirometry, and presence of pseudomonal colonisa tion. Median (range) wet stool IL-8 and TNF-alpha concentrations in pa tients were 32 113 pg/g (21 656-178 128) and 3187 pg/g (368-17 611) re spectively, compared with <43.5 pg (IL-8)/g (<22-4079) and 99 pg (TNF- alpha)/g (<0.26-231) in controls. IL-8 concentration was negatively co rrelated with Shwachman score (r=-0.79) and pancreatic enzyme dosage ( r=-0.77), but not with energy absorption. Seven patients were mature e nough to cooperate with Their IL-8 concentrations with percentage pred icted forced expiratory volume in one second (r=-0.78). IL-8 concentra tion was greater in four patients with, than five without, established pseudomonal colonisation: median difference 134 583 pg/g. TNF-alpha c oncentration was not correlated with measures of disease severity. Fae cal IL-8 concentration might reflect the severity of pulmonary inflamm ation in cystic fibrosis and could provide an easily obtainable marker of disease activity.