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עמוד בית
Tue, 10.12.24

Original Articles

IMAJ | volume

Journal 6, June 2006
pages: 388-390

Age-Related Leukocyte and Cytokine Patterns in Community-Acquired Bronchopneumonia

    Summary

    Background: Community-acquired bronchopneumonia in children is frequently accompanied by extreme leukocytosis, whereas in adults with the same diagnosis a high leukocyte count is uncommon. Data regarding differences in the serum levels of inflammatory cytokines between children and adults are limited.

    Objectives: To compare leukocyte counts and blood levels of various inflammatory cytokines in children and adults diagnosed with community-acquired bronchopneumonia.

    Methods: We prospectively evaluated all pediatric and adult patients admitted for bronchopneumonia based on clinical and chest X-ray findings.. Blood was drawn for complete blood count and serum concentration of the following cytokines: granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, interleukins-6, 8 and 10, interferon-gamma, tumor necrosis factor, as well as matrix metalloproteinase-9 and intercellular adhesion molecule-1.

    Results: There were 31 children and 32 adults. The patients in both groups had similar parameters of infection severity. None of them required admission to the Intensive Care Unit. Mean (± SD) leukocyte counts in the pediatric and adult groups were 21,018/mm (± 10,420) and 12,628/mm (± 6735) respectively (P = 0.02). Age was inversely correlated with leukocytes in the pediatric group (P = 0.0001). A significant inverse correslation was also found between age and platelet counts. Although cuytokine levels in both groups were not significantly different, age was

    Conclusions: The immune response in community-aquired bronchopneumonia is, at least partly, age-dependent.

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