降钙素原对中晚期肺癌患者化疗期间感染的诊断效率

目的研究肺癌患者化疗期间外周血降钙素原(PCT)水平,以了解细菌感染情况和诊断效率。方法采用电化学发光法测定肺癌患者血清PCT,结合白细胞计数和细菌培养,比较PCT对细菌感染的灵敏度、特异性和诊断效率。将患者按照PCT水平分为0.25 ng/ml、0.25~0.50 ng/ml、0.50 ng/ml共3个等级组。结果对照组PCT均值为(0.14±0.06)ng/ml,肺癌患者化疗期间外周血PCT的3个等级组的例数分别为37例、6例和7例,其均值分别为(0.15±0.09)ng/ml、(0.33±0.10)ng/ml和(4.29±3.31)ng/ml。0.25 ng/ml组血清PCT水平与对照组比较差异无统计学意义(t=0.526、P0.05);0.25~0.5 ng/ml组较0.25 ng/ml组PCT水平升高,差异具有统计学意义(t=4.186、P0.01)、0.50 ng/ml组较0.25~0.50 ng/ml组PCT水平升高,差异具有统计学意义(t=3.163、P0.01)。以血清0.50 ng/ml为基线,PCT0.5 ng/ml为阳性,肺癌患者化疗期间的细菌感染率为16.00%。检测血清PCT对细菌感染诊断的灵敏度为75.00%、特异性为97.62%、阳性预测值为85.71%、阴性预测值为95.35%和诊断效率为94.00%。结论血清PCT水平是细菌感染的重要指标,其诊断效率高,3个等级组有明确的基线界限,分为正常、可疑感染和明确感染,对应分别推荐为不使用抗菌药物、可使用抗菌药物和强烈建议使用抗菌药物,对肺癌患者化疗期间的早期临床诊治、合理用药具有指导意义。     

肝移植术后血清可溶性人类白细胞Ⅰ类抗原的动态观察

目的 :探讨动态检测血清可溶性人类白细胞Ⅰ类抗原 (serumsolublehumanleukocyteclassⅠanti gen ,sHLA Ⅰ )在监测肝移植术后急性排斥反应方面的诊断价值。方法 :采用ELISA法检测 10例肝移植患者术前及术后一个月血清sHLA Ⅰ的动态变化。结果 :急性排斥反应前 4～ 6d(肝酶ALT尚未明显升高 )sHLA Ⅰ即明显升高 ,排斥逆转后逐渐下降 ;当出现肝动脉并发症时 ,sHLA Ⅰ伴随肝酶ALT同步升高 ;感染时sHLA Ⅰ无明显升降。结论 :sHLA Ⅰ能预测肝移植急性排斥反应 ,结合肝功能酶学指标有助于克服其特异性差的缺点。     

输注受者骨髓间充质干细胞对肝移植大鼠免疫功能的影响

目的 观察肝移植同时输注受者骨髓间充质干细胞(MSCs)对受者肝移植免疫功能的影响.方法 实验分为4组:A组SD大鼠只行剖腹探查;B、C、D组各组行Wistar-SD大鼠肝移植同时,C组提取受者MSCs同期经门静脉输注给受者,D组给予肌注CsA,B组给予门静脉输注生理盐水.观察术后第1、7、14天肝功能的变化、病理改变和细胞因子变化.结果 肝移植同时输注受者MSCs,谷氨酸转移酶、血清总胆红素较对照组显著降低,病理改变仅呈急性轻度排除反应,与肌注CsA组相似,而单纯移植组呈急性重度排除反应.术后第7天,白细胞介素(IL)-2和干扰素(IFN)-γ浓度,C组分别为(443.89±2.39)、(347.55±3.35)ng/L,B组分别为(600.36±2.98)、(373.77±1.81)ng/L,而IL-4和IL-10浓度,C组分别为(126.99±1.18)、(147.40±1.07)ng/L,B组分别为(102.02±0.94)、(111.03±1.15)ng/L,C组和B组比较,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 肝移植同时输注MSCs,可通过抑制Th1细胞因子的表达,减轻受者对移植肝的排斥反应.     

前降钙素预测慢性胆囊炎病人的细菌感染

目的研究血清前降钙素(procalcitonin,PCT)在评估慢性胆囊炎病人是否存在隐匿性的细菌感染中的价值。方法入院拟行胆囊切除手术病人53例,慢性胆囊炎无临床发作,术前抽血清检测前降钙素原、C-反应蛋白、白细胞计数,术中留取胆汁行细菌培养,比较胆汁细菌培养阳性者和阴性者之间的血清前降钙素的差异。结果胆汁培养阳性组(23例)的PCT检测值为(4.62±5.23)ng/L,阴性组(30例)为(0.27±0.39)ng/L,阳性组较阴性组明显升高,两组比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论 PCT对慢性胆囊炎病人的细菌感染有一定的预测价值。     

人肝移植术后移植肝脏热休克蛋白70的表达及意义

目的 观察人肝移植术后移植肝脏热休克蛋白70(HSP70)的表达,探讨其与急性排斥反应发生、发展的相互关系.方法 选取15例肝移植术后肝脏穿刺活检标本,根据组织病理改变分为: 对照组(无排斥反应)、轻度急性排斥反应组及中/重度急性排斥反应组,对其进行HSP70免疫组织化学染色和图像分析.结果 肝移植术后3组肝脏组织均有HSP70表达,主要定位于肝细胞胞质中.免疫组织化学染色HSP70累积光密度(IOD)图像分析提示: 对照组IOD值为30.99±11.14,明显低于轻度急性排斥反应组(68.84±21.37)和中/重度急性排斥反应组(71.82±19.99),P＜0.01; 而中/重度急性排斥反应组IOD值又高于轻度急性排斥反应组,P＜0.05.结论 HSP70对移植肝脏具有保护作用,其表达持续增高与急性排斥反应发生、发展密切相关.     

不同血药浓度FK506对亲体肝移植患者安全性的临床观察：附46例临床报告

目的 探讨亲体肝移植术后使用不同血药浓度的免疫抑制剂(FK506)对肝移植患者安全性的影响. 方法 回顾性分析近5年间完成的46例亲体肝移植术患者的临床资料,比较FK506低浓度(3～5 ng/mL, 1年后1～2 ng/mL)组和常规浓度组(10～15 ng/mL, 1年后5～8 ng/mL)在术后1个月的免疫相关并发症的发生率及随访1年移植肝的存活情况和并发症,比较两者的安全性.结果 两组在术后1个月急性排斥发生率、高血压、高血糖发生率和肝功能无显著性差异(P＞0.05),术后感染、肾功能损害低浓度组发生率显著低于正常浓度组(P＜0.05).1年移植肝存活率两者相同,血肌酐水平、感染发生率、黄疸发生率低浓度组显著低于常规组(P＜0.05).结论 低浓度的FK506在围手术期和远期均有较好的安全性.术后感染率,肾功能损害发生率与免疫抑制剂浓度呈正相关.     

血清降钙素原(PCT)在新生儿感染中的临床应用和诊断价值

目的:了解降钙素原在新生儿感染中的临床应用和诊断价值,为临床提供诊断依据.方法:应用免疫荧光法对108例感染新生儿和20例对照组的血清降钙素原(PCT)进行测定.结果:细菌感染组PCT95.7％ (67/70),病毒感染组PCT阳性率5.3％ (2/38),对照组阳性率5％(1/20).PCT阳性率两两比较,有显著性差异.差异有统计学意义(p＜0.05).结论:血清降钙素原(PCT)是快速鉴别细菌感染和病毒感染、细菌感染预后的判断及治疗监测的主要指标之一,以PCT＞2ng/ml为诊断标准时,诊断的灵敏度与特异度均较高.PCT在新生儿感染中的临床应用优于C-反应蛋白.     

中国成人肝移植受体服用微乳化环孢素A两小时后浓度监测

目的评估微乳化环孢素A(CsAME)服用2h后药物浓度(C2)监测的安全性和可靠性,初步确定适合中国成人肝移植受体的C2目标浓度。方法将53例肝移植术后1～2个月的中国成人肝移植受体随机分为C0组(n=17)、高浓度C2组(n=18)、低浓度C2组(n=18),每组均设定了相应的目标浓度,随访期间定期监测CsA浓度、心、肝、肾功能、机体免疫状态及排斥反应的发生情况。结果低浓度C2组口服CsA的剂量最低,仅为2.51±0.37mg·kg-1·d-1,与C0组和高浓度C2组相比差异具有显著性(P<0.01)。低浓度C2组心、肝、肾功能受损程度最小,高浓度C2组受损伤程度最重。低浓度C2组的CD+4/CD+8T细胞比值为1.04±0.68,与C0组无显著性差异(P>0.05)。各组的排斥反应发生率无显著性差异。低浓度C2组的临床获益率最高(72.22%),高浓度C2组最低(11.11%)。结论通过设定合理的目标浓度,C2监测可以提供更合理的CsA口服剂量,在明显降低毒副作用的同时不增加排斥反应的发生率。适合中国成人肝移植受体的术后CsAMEC2目标浓度初步确定为:术后1～6个月600～800ng/ml,术后7～12个月400～600ng/ml。     

降钙素原检测对重症急性胰腺炎并发感染的诊断价值分析

目的探讨降钙素原(PCT)对重症急性胰腺炎并发感染的诊断价值。方法回顾性分析2015年8月至2016年8月70例重症急性胰腺炎患者资料,根据患者有无并发感染将其分为并发感染组(35例)和未感染组(35例),观察分析两组患者的临床体征和检测指标。所有数据用SPSS19.0统计学软件分析,PCT、C反应蛋白(CRP)和白细胞(WBC)含量以均数±标准差(±s)表示,采用t检验;并发症发生情况采用卡方检验;P0.05表示差异有统计学意义。结果患者入院时,并发感染组患者血清PCT(4.4±2.7)ng/ml明显高于未感染组(0.05±0.01)ng/ml,(P0.05),而CRP、WBC两组差异无统计学意义(P0.05);并发感染组第1、7、14、21天PCT水平[(5.5±3.2)、(10.6±2.1)、(3.3±0.2)、(0.7±0.1)ng/ml]明显高于未感染组[(1.5±0.7)、(0.9±0.3)、(0.2±0.03)、(0.5±0.1)ng/ml](P0.05);并发感染组患者无并发症如休克、弥散性血管内凝血DIC、消化道出血、死亡等病例发生,而未感染组的发生率分别为8.6%、11.4%、5.7%、5.7%,两组差异有显著统计学意义(P0.05)。结论检测PCT水平可以提高急性胰腺炎并发感染诊断的准确性,为临床治疗提供依据,有助于防治急性胰腺炎患者发生感染,推荐临床诊断应用并推广。     

肾综合征出血热患者降钙素原测定的临床价值

目的探讨肾综合征出血热患者中降钙素原(PCT)的分布规律,并分析降钙素原测定对于疾病的判断及鉴别合并细菌感染方面的临床价值。方法采用回顾性分析方法,对2011年1月至2014年4月在首都医科大学附属北京地坛医院住院治疗的37例肾综合征出血热患者的PCT等炎症指标进行分析总结。结果17例无细菌感染的肾综合征出血热患者,PCT中位数为0.79 ng/ml,20例合并细菌感染的肾综合征出血热患者,PCT中位数为5.85 ng/ml,两组差异具有统计学意义(t=0.25,P0.05)。在合并细菌感染组和非细菌感染组中,C-反应蛋白和白细胞计数的均值,差异均具有统计学意义(P均0.05)。17例未合并细菌感染的肾综合征出血热患者,按病情轻重分为A组(轻型+中型)及B组(重型+危重型)两组,分别有7例和10例患者,PCT中位数分别为1.09 ng/ml和0.31 ng/ml,差异无统计学意义。A和B两组C-反应蛋白、白细胞计数的均值,差异均无统计学意义。结论在肾综合征出血热患者中,PCT水平常显著升高,其分布范围较广,以PCT0.5 ng/ml作为鉴别是否合并细菌感染的特异性及敏感度均较低。     

Procalcitonin (PCT) in cardiac surgery: diagnostic value in systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), sepsis and after heart transplantation (HTX)

PURPOSE: Since it is of great importance to distinguish between a systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and an infection caused by microbes especially after heart transplantation (HTX), we examined patients following heart surgery by determining procalcitonin (PCT), because PCT is said to be secreted only in patients with microbial infections. METHODS: Sixty patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and 14 patients after heart transplantation were included in this prospective study. In the CABG group we had 30 patients without any postoperative complications (group A). Furthermore we took samples of 30 patients who suffered postoperatively from a sepsis (group B, n=15) or a systemic inflammatory response syndrome (C, n=15). In addition we measured the PCT-levels in 65 blood samples of 14 patients after heart transplantation (Group I: rejection > IIa, II: viral infection (CMV), III: bacterial/fungal infection, IV: controls). RESULTS: In all patients of group A the pre- and intraoperative PCT-values and the measurement at arrival on intensive care unit (ICU) were less than 0.2 ng/ml. On the second postoperative day the PCT-value was 0.33+/-0.15 ng/ml in the control group. At the same time it was 19.6+/-6.2 ng/ml in sepsis and 0.7+/-0.4 ng/ml in systemic inflammatory response syndrome patients (P<0.05). In transplanted patients we could find the following PCT-values: Gr.I: 0.18+/-0.06 II: 0.30+/-0.09 III: 1.63+/-1.16 IV: 0.21+/-0.09 ng/ml (P<0.05 comparing group III with I, II and IV). CONCLUSIONS: These results show that extracorporeal circulation (ECC) and systemic inflammatory response syndrome do not initiate a PCT-secretion. Septic conditions cause a significant increase of PCT. In addition, PCT is a reliable indicator concerning the essential differentiation of bacterial or fungal--not viral--infection and rejection after heart transplantation.     

血清降钙素原在区分儿童社区获得性肺炎病原菌类型中的应用

目的探讨降钙素原在鉴别革兰阳性菌（G^＋菌）和革兰阴性菌（G^-菌）感染的儿童社区获得性肺炎（CAP）中的作用。方法以2011年1月至2012年12月于四川省人民医院诊断为儿童社区获得性肺炎的住院患者为研究对象,根据痰细菌培养结果将患儿分为G^＋菌组和G^-菌组,比较两组患儿降钙素原（PCT）、超敏C-反应蛋白（hsCRP）和白细胞（WBC）水平的差异。结果共纳入122例儿童CAP患者,其中G^＋菌感染58例,G^-菌感染64例。G^-菌感染者外周血PCT水平显著高于G^＋菌感染者（13．29±4.30ng／ml vs 7．22±1．07ng／ml,P〈0．001）,而hsCRP（12．64±6．20mg／L vs13．27±6．90mg／L,P〉0．05）和WBC计数[（11．28±4．30）×10^9／L vs（12．43±3．70）×10^9／L,P〉0．05]在两组间的分布差异无统计学意义。受试者工作曲线（ROC）分析提示,PCT=7．50ng／ml时,PCT诊断G^-菌感染儿童CAP的ROC曲线下面积为0．846,其敏感度和特异度分别为81．4％和85．6％。结论PCT对鉴别儿童CAP患者病原菌类型（G^＋菌或G^-菌）具有一定参考价值。     

Combined use of myeloid-related protein 8/14 and procalcitonin as diagnostic markers for acute allograft rejection in kidney transplantation recipients

The myeloid-related proteins 8 and 14 exist as a dimeric complex (MRP 8/14) and serve as early and highly specific markers for inflammatory processes, such as allograft rejection and non-viral (bacterial or fungal) infections. An elevated procalcitonin (PCT) concentration in serum also serves as a diagnostic indicator of non-viral infection. Therefore, by measuring both MRP 8/14 and PCT serum concentrations, one may be able to distinguish between acute allograft rejection and non-viral infections in non-rejection transplant recipients. Here, we investigated whether MRP 8/14 and PCT can function as prognostic (Study I) or diagnostic (Study II) markers for allograft rejection in renal transplant recipients. In Study I, the serum concentrations of MRP 8/14 and PCT during the first 2 weeks after transplantation did not differ between patients who did and did not suffer organ rejection within 1 year post-transplantation; these findings suggest that the MRP 8/14 and PCT parameters are not valid prognostic markers. However, in Study II, patients with acute rejection or non-rejection/non-viral infection groups displayed a significant increase in serum MRP 8/14 concentration, and non-rejection patients with non-viral infections only had elevation in the PCT serum concentrations. These results indicate that the combined use of MRP 8/14 and PCT serum concentrations can allow one to distinguish between allograft rejection and other inflammatory processes, such as infection.     

外周血中性粒细胞表面CD64对白血病患者细菌感染的诊断价值

目的探究外周血中性粒细胞表面CD64对白血病患者细菌感染的诊断效果。 方法选取2013年1月至2014年1月本院收治的30例白血病合并细菌感染者（A组）、30例白血病非细菌感染者（B组）和30例健康体检志愿者（健康对照组）的临床资料。采用免疫比浊法检测每组患者的C-反应蛋白（CRP）和降钙素原（PCT）水平,采用流式细胞术检测CD4/CD8和CD64的表达,采用电阻抗法检测中性粒细胞百分比（NEU%）。 结果A组患者的CRP、PCT、NEU%分别为3.27（0.14～4.41）ng/ml、2.4（1.7～3.1）ng/ml和89（80～90）%。B组患者的CRP、PCT、NEU%分别为0.10（0.10～0.10）ng/ml、0.4（0.2～0.6）ng/ml和70（68～75）%。健康对照组的CRP、PCT、NEU%分别为0.06（0.04～0.08）ng/ml、0.2（0.1～0.5）ng/ml和62（50～70）%。健康对照组和白血病非细菌感染组患者的CRP、PCT和NEU%均低于白血病合并细菌感染组患者,其中A组和B组CRP、PCT和NEU%水平差异具有统计学意义（P = 0.024、0.021、0.029,LSD-t = 8.390、8.511、8.153）;A组和C组CRP、PCT和NEU%水平差异具有统计学意义（P = 0.037、0.033、0.039,LSD-t = 7.315、7.672、7.123）。A组患者的CD64指数表达和CD4/CD8指数分别为（95.52±0.31）和（0.64±0.03）;B组患者的CD64指数表达和CD4/CD8分别为（38.33±0.22）和（0.97±0.12）;C组患者的CD64指数表达和CD4/CD8分别为（5.11±0. 43）和（1.64±0.23）,健康对照组和白血病非细菌感染组患者的CD64表达均低于白血病合并细菌感染组患者,健康对照组和白血病非细菌感染组患者的CD4/CD8均高于白血病合并细菌感染组患者,差异统计学具有意义（χ²= 2.274、P = 0.035）。PCT的敏感度和特异度分别为67.0%和89.0%,CRP的敏感度和特异度分别为85.0%和76.0%,CD64的敏感度和特异度分别为71.0%和90.0%,NEU%的敏感度和特异度分别为58.0%和86.0%。 结论CD64诊断白血病合并细菌感染有良好的特异度,对白血病合并细菌感染的早期诊断有重要的诊断价值。     

Procalcitonin in the setting of complicated postoperative course after liver transplantation

Background

Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is a treatment for end-stage liver disease. The shortage of available organs leads to the acceptance of marginal grafts, thereby increasing the risk of perioperative complications such as acute rejection, infection, and graft dysfunction Procalcitonin (PCT) has been shown to be a reliable marker for a complicated course after traumamatic injury as well as in the courses of systemic inflammatory response syndrome and sepsis. The aim of our study was to evaluate PCT as an early prognostic marker for the occurrence of complication during the postoperative course after OLT.

Method

We analyzed PCT levels and clinical and paraclinical data of 32 patients who underwent 33 OLTs. The highest PCT was termed as peak-PCT. Patients were stratified into noncomplication and complication groups. Renal replacement therapy, respiratory insufficiency, postoperative bleeding, refractory ascites, pleural effusion, rejection, sepsis, and fatal outcome were defined as complications. A secondary stratification, using a peak-PCT of 5 ng/mL, was used to analyzed the risk of a complication. We also analyzed the course of PCT after OLT in each group.

Results

The peak-PCT, which occurred between the first and third postoperative day in 30 patients, was followed by halving of the value every second day. Three subjects died because of sepsis. A constantly rising PCT or a secondary rise observed in 2 patients was associated with a fatal outcome. The noncomplication group included 18 patients, 8 of them showing a peakPCT <5 ng/mL and 10 above. The complication group included 14 patients who underwent 15 transplantations; Only 1 displayed a peakPCT <5 ng/mL. When the peak-PCT was >5 ng/mL, the odds ratio of a complication was 11.2 (95% Confidence interval, 10.81–11.59; P < .025). However, not before the 7th postoperative day was the course of mean PCT levels significantly different between the complication and noncomplication groups. In transplant patients, an elevation of PCT was observed only in the presence of bacterial infection and not rejection or wound infection. PCT rose during respiratory failure and sepsis, but not renal replacement therapy, ascites, pleural effusion, rejection, or bleeding.

Conclusion

PCT was a reliable marker. A decline was observed in 31 cases with subject, who both had fatal outcomes showing a constantly rising level. An initial high PCT indicated a poor prognosis; some members of the noncomplication group also had levels >15 ng/mL. The patients in the complication group showed a higher mean PCT, which was significant at 7 days, most probably because of the high variation among levels. Still, a peak-PCT >5 ng/mL showed an odds ratio of 11.2 for patients to experience a complication.     

动态监测HLA Ⅰ类分子与降钙素原用于鉴别肾移植术后急性排斥反应与感染的价值

目的探讨动态监测患者肾移植术后外周血淋巴细胞表面人类白细胞抗原Ⅰ类分子(humanleukocyteantigenⅠ,HLAⅠ)及降钙素原(procalcitonin,PCT)水平用于鉴别急性排斥反应(AR)及感染的价值。方法根据术后临床表现、肾功能检查、影像学及移植肾穿刺活检结果将99例(102例次)肾移植受者分为3组,AR组18例次,感染组14例次,移植后正常组70例次,并选取齐鲁医院20名健康献血者作为正常对照组。采用流式细胞术(flowcytometry,FCM)检测研究对象外周血淋巴细胞表面HLAⅠ类分子表达水平;采用免疫荧光分析法定量检测研究对象血清PCT水平。结果肾移植受者术后发生AR或严重细菌感染时,淋巴细胞表面HLAⅠ类分子水平均明显升高,两组比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),但感染组的PCT阳性率明显高于AR组(P<0.01)。结论与监测外周血淋巴细胞表面HLAⅠ类分子水平相比,监测血清PCT水平变化在鉴别诊断肾移植术后AR与严重细菌感染方面更加敏感。     

C-反应蛋白和血清降钙素原对危重患者感染的监测价值研究

目的探讨C-反应蛋白（CRP）和血清降钙素原（PCT）对危重患者感染的监测价值。方法收集2012年10月至2013年10月本院ICU病房收治的98例危重患者,根据辅助检查结果将其分为细菌感染组（68例）和病毒感染组（30例）两组,对其PCT和CRP含量进行测定。并将细菌感染组患者随机分为观察组和对照组,每组各34例;动态监测其治疗前后PCT和CRP含量的变化情况。结果细菌感染组和病毒感染组患者的PCT平均含量分别为（3.64±0.58）μg/L和（0.37±0.35）μg/L,差异具有统计学意义（t=2.437,P〈0.05）。细菌感染组和病毒感染组患者的CRP平均含量分别为（38.27±20.55）mg/L和（37.91±20.63 mg/L）相比,差异无统计学意义（t=0.694,P〉0.05）。观察组治疗后PCT的平均含量由治疗前的（3.68±0.62）μg/L下降为（0.53±0.21）μg/L,相比于对照组由治疗前的（3.59±0.51）μg/L下降为（2.67±0.43）μg/L,下降幅度更大;观察组治疗后CRP的平均含量为（13.81±5.64）mg/L,显著低于对照组的（21.53±5.38）mg/L,差异具有统计学意义（t=5.724,P〈0.05）。结论 PCT和CRP含量的动态监测在临床应用时各有优势,二者联合应用,在对危重患者感染的诊断和治疗中具有极高的临床价值。     

Circulating serum levels of interleukin 6 and C-reactive protein after liver transplantation.

The study objectives were to investigate serum levels of interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein (CRP) after liver transplantation to correlated measurements with various clinical parameters. Twenty-three patients were studied after orthotopic liver transplantation. Serum IL-6 activity was evaluated by testing its capacity to induce proliferation of the IL-6-dependent hybridoma cell line B9. CRP was assessed by a nephelometric method. Only two of seven patients with acute cellular rejection developed an increase of serum IL-6 and CRP. In contrast to this rejection group, elevated IL-6 levels were observed in 7/9 patients with bacterial infections. Peak values for IL-6 were observed one day and for CRP two days after clinical diagnosis of infection. CMV disease was also associated with markedly increased IL-6 and CRP levels in 5/7 patients. Surprisingly, levels in this condition were approximately in the same range as in bacterial infection. IL-6 and CRP serum levels seen in bacterial infection and CMV disease were significantly higher than those in rejection (P less than 0.001). Serum IL-6 activity was neutralized by an antiserum directed against recombinant human IL-6. Preferential elevations of IL-6 and CRP represent one feature of bacterial and viral infections. Elevation of TNF during rejection as described earlier is only rarely accompanied by increased serum IL-6 levels.     

Endothelin in Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid is Increased in Lung-Transplanted Patients

Animal studies have shown increased endothelin in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid during unmodified rejection. We performed radioimmunoassay of endothelin in 59 BAL fluid samples from ten patients at different times after lung transplantation. All patients received immunosuppressive therapy (cyclosporin, azathioprine and methylprednisolone). Reference BAL samples were obtained from six controls. Of the 59 test samples, five were collected during rejection episodes, confirmed by clinical outcome, BAL cytology and radiology (rejection group), and 19 were taken during bacterial, viral or fungal infection (infection group). The endothelin content of BAL (pg/ml) was significantly greater in the rejection group than in the infection group (61.1 ± 3.8 vs 40.6 ± 2.0) or in the 35 samples taken in uncomplicated course after lung transplantation (40.9 ± 5.4), p < 0.01. The endothelin level in BAL fluid from the controls was only 3.0 ± 1.4 pg/ml, significantly less (p < 0.005) than in all the lung-transplanted groups. Endothelin in BAL fluid thus was increased after lung transplantation, and still further during rejection.