INTERLEUKIN-8 IN SERUM IN GRANULOCYTOPENIC PATIENTS WITH INFECTIONS

Serum levels of interleukin 8 (IL-8) were examined in eight patients w ith acute myeloid leukaemia during 16 courses of chemotherapy. The pat ients experienced 14 episodes of fever which occurred in periods with granulocyte counts <0 5x10(9)/l. Febrile episodes were classified as b acteriologically defined infection (n=6), clinically defined infection (n=2), and unexplained fever (n=6). IL-8 was detected in 18/25 (72%), 2/3 (67%) and 3/7 (43%) of the serum samples in the respective groups . In contrast, IL-8 was detected in 22/90 (24%) of the samples taken w hen no fever was present (P <0.00003 versus bacteriologically defined infection). The median concentration of IL-S in samples taken during f ebrile episodes was 194 ng/ml (range 0-6358 ng/ml) and 0 (range 0-5392 ng/ml) on days without fever (not significant). In three patients wit h infections caused by, respectively, Streptococcus sanguis, Acinetoba cter calcoanitratus and Candida albicans, IL-8 rose to a peak levels a nd declined during recovery. We conclude that IL-I is released systemi cally during infections with gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and Candida albicans in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia and peri pheral granulocytopenia due to chemotherapy. However, IL-8 can also be detected when no sign of infection is present.