Role of serum cytokines in acute appendicitis and acute mesenteric lymphadenitis among children

Background and objective: The diagnostic role of serum cytokines depends on the etiology and pathogenesis of acute appendicitis (AA) and acute mesenteric lymphadenitis (AML). The aim of this study was to evaluate differences in cytokine levels between AA and AML.
Materials and methods: Data of 7- to 18-year-old children were collected prospectively from October 2010 to October 2013. There were 31 patients with AA (AA group), 26 with AML (AML group), and 17 with elective non-inflammatory surgical disease (control group). Serum levels of IL-10, IL-12(p70), IL-1b, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17, MCP-1, EGF, TNF-α and white blood count (WBC) were measured three times consecutively in each group.
Results: The level of IL-6 and IL-10 was significantly higher in the AA group than the AML group at the first measurement (8 pg/mL vs. 3.2 pg/mL, P = 0.000; 6.1 pg/mL vs. 3.2 pg/mL, P = 0.005, respectively). There was a significant difference observed in time dynamics of concentration of IL-6 and MCP-1 for AA and AML. The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.77 (95% CI 0.64–0.89; P = 0.001) for IL-6 with a cut-off value of 4.3 pg/mL (67.7% sensitivity and 76.9% specificity) for AA 1 h before surgery. The AUC for WBC was 0.72 (95% CI 0.58.4–0.85; P = 0.005) with a cut-off value of 10.7 × 10³/μL (sensitivity 71.0% and specificity 46.2%).
Conclusions: Serum IL-6 with a cut-off value of 4.3 pg/mL and WBC with a cut-off value of 10.7 × 10³/μL assessed together will yield more sensitivity for AA.