Cytokine production in patients with tuberculous pericarditis
Date
2002
Authors
Burgess L.J.
Reuter H.
Carstens M.E.
Taljaard J.J.F.
Doubell A.F.
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Abstract
SETTING: An academic hospital in the Western Cape, South Africa. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate cytokine production (interferon-gamma [IFN-γ], interleukin-1 [IL-1], interleukin-2 [IL-2], interleukin-6 [IL-6], interleukin-10 [IL-10], interleukin-4 [IL-4] and tumour necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-α]) in patients with tuberculous pericarditis. DESIGN: Subpopulation of a consecutive prospective case series. PATIENTS: Thirty patients presenting with pericardial effusions due to tuberculosis (n = 19), malignancy (n = 6) and non-tuberculous infections (n = 5), and five control subjects who had undergone open heart surgery. RESULTS: The concentration of IFN-γ was significantly higher in tuberculous pericardial effusions than in the other diagnostic classes (P < 0.0005). The concentration of TNF-α was similar in both infective and tuberculous effusions, but was significantly higher than that of malignant effusions. IL-1 and IL-2 were undetectable in malignant effusions, but elevated in both infective and tuberculous pericardial effusions. The levels of IL-1 and IL-2 were furthermore significantly higher in pericardial effusions due to infective compared to tuberculous causes. The concentration of IL-6, while elevated in all diagnostic classes, was significantly higher in the malignant group. Elevated levels of IL-10 and undetectable levels of IL-4 were observed in all three diagnostic groups. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that tuberculous pericardial effusions arise due to a hypersensitivity reaction that is orchestrated by the TH-1 lymphocytes.
Description
Keywords
cytokine, gamma interferon, interleukin 1, interleukin 10, interleukin 2, interleukin 4, interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor alpha, adult, article, clinical article, controlled study, cytokine production, echocardiography, electrocardiography, female, heart muscle biopsy, human, Klebsiella pneumoniae, lung tumor, male, pericardial effusion, pericardiocentesis, pericarditis, priority journal, prospective study, Salmonella, South Africa, sputum smear, Staphylococcus aureus, Th1 cell, thorax radiography, tuberculosis, Adult, Cytokines, Female, Humans, Interferon Type II, Interleukin-1, Interleukin-10, Interleukin-2, Interleukin-4, Interleukin-6, Male, Pericardiocentesis, Pericarditis, Tuberculous, Pericardium, Prospective Studies, Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
Citation
International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
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