Can Cytokines Response Play a Role in the Treatment of Fatal Leptospirosis?
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Background: The northern coastal regions of Iran are endemic for leptospirosis which may range from a subclinical illness to a progressively fatal disease. There has been growing evidence that inflammatory markers play a significant role in the severity and prognosis of leptospirosis. This study aimed to investigate inflammatory cytokines in patients with leptospirosis.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical prospective study was performed in 75 patients over 18 years old who had a positive microscopic agglutination test (MAT) titer from January to June 2019. SPSS software Version 20 was used for statistical analysis and the significance level was considered as p<0.05.
Results: The patients' age enrolled in this study are from 21 to 75 years with a mean and standard deviation of 48.6±14.0. The male to female ratio in our participants was 54/21. Fever was the most common symptoms in 66 (88.0%) patients, followed by myalgia in 62 (82.7%) cases. The level of interleukin 10 was significantly higher in severe illness (P=0.003) and fatal cases (p<0.028) compared with recovered patients. The level of TNF-α level was also higher in the severe illness and Weil's syndrome compared with the mild kind (P=0.022).
Conclusion: Our results showed that the levels of TNF-α and IL-10 significantly increased in severe leptospirosis. Also, IL-10 was significantly higher in fatal cases. The inhibition of IL-10 production might play an important role in decreasing the risk of fatal outcomes in leptospirosis.
Levels of Cytokines in Leptospirosis Patients with Different Serovars and Locus.
Senavirathna I, Jayasundara D, Warnasekara J, Kappagoda C, Agampodi S J Interferon Cytokine Res. 2024; 44(2):80-93.
PMID: 38377491 PMC: 10880283. DOI: 10.1089/jir.2023.0091.