Tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 are thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of sepsis with gram-negative bacteria. We studied these cytokines during neonatal sepsis with mainly gram-positive bacteria. Ten newborns with clinical sepsis and 22 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. TNFα plasma levels proved to be increased in the newborns with sepsis up to 560 ± 234 pg/mL (ng/L)versus 36 ± 4 pg/mL (ng/L) in the control group (p versus 55 ± 28 pg/mL (ng/L) in the control group (p versus 7 ± 1 pg/mL (ng/L) in the control group (p R = 0.66,p = 0.04). TNF α, IL-1 β, and IL-6 were not correlated with any febrile response in the group with sepsis. Inasmuch as only moderate temperature increases were seen in these patients, we hypothesize that a low IL-1 β plasma level may explain the lack of a febrile response during neonatal sepsis.
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