The Clinical Significance Of The Dynamic Change Of Serum Concentration Of Inflammatory Cytokines In Patients With Pulmonary Contusion

Objective To evaluate the roles of serum inflammatory cytokines such asTumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) , interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukine-8 (IL-8) in pulmonary contusion and lung injury related to pulmonary contusion. Methods 36 patients with pulmonary contusion were accurately selected from October 2000 to December 2001. The changes in TNF , IL-6 and IL-8 serum level were dynamically observed by enzyme linked immunoabsorbed assay (ELISA). The same markers were tested in pleural effusion of those patients of pulmonary contusion with little amount of hemothorax. The changes in TNF, IL-6 and IL-8 serum level were also dynamically observed in those Adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients secondary to pulmonary contusion. Sera from 27 patients with rib fracture and 30 healthy individuals were used as controls. Results Compared with the controls, The serum level of TNF, IL-6 and IL-8 were increased significantly in patients with pulmonary contusion and lung injury related to pulmonary contusion; The similar increases were obvious in pleural effusion of those patients with little amount of hemothorax. Conclusions Such inflammatory cytokines as TNF, IL-6 and IL-8 might play important roles in pulmonary contusion and ARDS secondary to it; High level of TNF, IL-6 and IL-8 in pleural effusion truly reflected the degree of lung damage, Among those patients of pulmonary contusion with little amount of hemothorax , the levels of TNF , IL-6 and IL-8 concentration in pleural effusion might act as more efficacious markers for us to evaluate the treatment of pulmonary contusion and predict its outcome.