[Clinical significance of the changes of serum interleukin-18 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels in children with infectious mononucleosis].

AIM: To study the dynamic changes of levels of serum interleukin-18 (IL-18) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in children with infectious mononucleosis (IM).

METHODS

72 patients with IM were analyzed for the expression of TNF-alpha and IL-18 by RIA and ELISA, respectively in acute phase, convalescent phase, (the first month, the third month, the sixth month), and the control group.

RESULTS

The levels of serum TNF-alpha and IL-18 in patients with IM were significantly higher than that in control (P < 0.05). The serum levels of TNF-alpha and IL-18 decreased with time and in patients at stage were significantly higher than that in control (P < 0.05). The levels of serum cytokine were correlated with the state of illness.

CONCLUSION

The serum cytokine TNF-alpha and IL-18 may be regarded as index to reflect the state of immunity and prognosis of patients with IM.