Patterns of cytokine evolution (tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6) after septic shock, hemorrhagic shock, and severe trauma

Abstract

In septic shock patients, high amounts of circulating TNF-alpha and IL-6 are found and then correlate with fatal outcome. In trauma patients (even those patients resuscitated from hemorrhagic shock), much less increased concentrations of IL-6 are detected while normal TNF-alpha circulating concentrations are measured. In these patients, cytokine concentrations do not correlate with outcome. This finding suggests a much higher degree of activation of the immunoinflammatory cascade in septic shock than in multiple trauma patients. Increased IL-6 values are an indicator of the development of a nosocomial infection in trauma patients.