Prognostic Value of Cytokine Concentrations (Tumor Necrosis Factor–α, Interleukin‐6, and Interleukin‐10) and Clinical Parameters in Severe Melioidosis

Raised serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-lβ, IL-6, or IL-10 are associated with mortality in patients with sepsis, but it is not known whether elevated cytokine levels are independently predictive of mortality. Cytokine assays (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10) were performed on admission plasma samples from 172 adult Thai patients with severe melioidosis. Mortality was 31.4%. APACHE II score; septicemia; plasma lactate; TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 concentrations; and IL-10/TNF-α and IL-6/IL-10 ratios were each associated with outcome (P ⩽.001 for all variables). Only the APACHE II score and either IL-6 or IL-10 concentration were independent predictors of mortality, as determined by use of multiple logistic regression (with cytokine concentrations and ratios entered separately). In a multivariate analysis, including both IL-6 and IL-10, the IL-10 concentration was no longer predictive. Therefore, APACHE II scores and either IL-6 or IL-10 concentration may be the most reliable parameters for stratification of patients in future studies of severe gramnegative sepsis.