SERUM CONCENTRATIONS OF E-SELECTIN, P-SELECTIN, ICAM-1 AND INTERLEUKIN-6 IN ACUTE-LEUKEMIA PATIENTS WITH CHEMOTHERAPY-INDUCED LEUKOPENIA AND BACTERIAL-INFECTIONS

Serum concentrations of E-selectin (CD62E), P-selectin (CD62P), ICAM-1 (CD54) and interleukin 6 were investigated in acute leukaemia patient s with chemotherapy-induced leucopenia and complicating bacterial infe ctions, Serum concentrations of both E-selectin and P-selectin were de creased in the leucopenic patients without infections when compared wi th levels before chemotherapy; and serum concentrations of both E-sele ctin and P-selectin showed a further decrease during complicating bact erial infections. In contrast to the leukaemia patients, previously he althy individuals with meningococcal disease showed markedly elevated serum concentrations of E-selectin and normal levels of P-selectin dur ing infection. Serum concentrations of ICAM-1 and interleukin 6 increa sed during bacterial infections in the acute leukaemia patients with c hemotherapy-induced leucopenia. The alterations in serum concentration s of soluble adhesion molecules and interleukin 6 reversed when clinic al signs of bacterial infections resolved during antibiotic therapy. O ur results demonstrate that acute leukaemia patients with chemotherapy -induced cytopenia show altered levels of both soluble adhesion molecu les and interleukin 6 during complicating bacterial infections.