The presence and concentration of selected cytokines (interleukin 4 (I
L-4), interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 8 (IL-8), granulocyte colony-s
timulating factor (G-CSF) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulatin
g factor (GM-CSF) were evaluated in the sera of 12 burned patients (6-
90 per cent body surface area). The presence of cytokines in the sera
of 20 healthy volunteers (control group) was always undetectable (< 2
pg/ml). In sera of the burned patients the concentrations of IL-4 or G
M-CSF were also below the test sensitivity levels, while G-CSF and IL-
6 were present throughout all the observation period and IL-8 was dete
ctable at the onset of massive infections. The serum concentrations of
G-CSF and IL-6 increased during the episodes of clinically and bacter
iologically detectable infections. Their increases were, however, obse
rvable 12-24 h later than the other infection symptoms. Similar increa
ses in G-CSF and IL-6 levels have been defected during corrective surg
ery (covering of granulation tissue with skin grafts). It may be concl
uded that serum G-CSF and IL-6 levels in burned patients may be consid
ered as diagnostic factors, but the delays in the reaction to the mass
ive infection do not allow us to use them for predicting the time of o
nset of the infection.