Evaluation of serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor- alpha in patients with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever.

We investigated the role played by cytokines in the mortality of patients with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF). Serum levels of several cytokines were measured in 3 patients with fatal CCHF and in 27 patients with nonfatal CCHF. Levels of interleukin (IL)-6 (P</=.001) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)- alpha (P=.004) were significantly higher in patients with fatal CCHF than in patients with nonfatal CCHF, whereas levels of IL-10 were not significantly different between the 2 groups (P=.937). Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) scores were also higher in the patients with fatal CCHF (P=.023). Levels of IL-6 and TNF- alpha were positively correlated with DIC scores, whereas levels of IL-10 were negatively correlated with DIC scores. In conclusion, these findings demonstrate that proinflammatory cytokines play a major role in the mortality of patients with CCHF. Copyright © 2006 Infectious Diseases Society of America [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]