INTERLEUKIN-6, C-REACTIVE PROTEIN, LACTOFERRIN AND WHITE BLOOD-CELL COUNT IN PATIENTS WITH STAPHYLOCOCCUS-AUREUS SEPTICEMIA

In a prospective study of 65 patients with S. aureus septicemia, the c linical value of measuring serum IL-6 and lactoferrin levels was asses sed and compared with CRP levels and WBC count. 20/65 (31%) patients h ad a CRP value less than or equal to 100 mg/l on admission and 10 (50% ) and 11 (55%) of these had serum levels of IL-6 > 100 pg/ml or lactof errin > 2.0 mg/l, respectively. 41/64 (64%) patients had a WBC count l ess than or equal to 15.0 x 10(9)/l and the corresponding figures for increased IL-6 and lactoferrin values were 29 (71%) and 21 (51%) patie nts, respectively. The high concentrations of IL-6 and lactoferrin on admission decreased rapidly during the hospital stay, better reflectin g the clinical course than CRP and WBC count. Patients with endocardit is showed higher IL-6 levels and body temperatures both on admission a nd during the first days of hospitalization compared with patients wit hout endocarditis.