Organ dysfunction following stem cell transplantation: relationship to plasma cytokine concentrations

Patients receiving high-dose preparation for stem cell transplantation are at risk for organ dysfunction (OD). Signs of early OD include hypoxia, ment al status changes, and liver dysfunction. These early signs have not been c orrelated with potential cytokine mediators. We compared plasma concentrati ons of IL-6, TNF-alpha, and IL-10 in OD patients and controls. Cytokines we re measured before preparation, 5 days before OD, day of OD, and 5 days aft er OD. TNF-alpha and IL-10 were not measurable prior to preparation. IL-10 was more likely to be measurable in OD patients than in controls 5 days pri or to onset of OD (P = 0.039), on the day of OD (P = 0.023), and 5 days lat er (P < 0.0001). TNF-alpha was more likely to be measurable only on the day of OD (P = 0.0035). IL-6 was significantly elevated in OD patients at all time points. Patients who had measurable IL-6 on admission were 5.1 times m ore likely to develop OD (95% CI = 1.4-17.9; P = 0.011). Five days prior to OD for each 100 pg/ml increase in IL-6, patients were 2.75 times more like ly to develop OD (95% CI = 1.3-5.8; P = 0.0087). The early elevation of IL- 6 in patients who develop OD may help identify a high risk group where prev entive therapies can be evaluated.