Tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 6 in infants with sepsis.

Thirty-two infants above one month of age admitted to a tertiary care hospital with signs of infection and presumptive diagnosis of sepsis were included. Cytokine levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFmu) and interleukin-6 (IL 6) were estimated at admission and after 48 to 72 hr, and their relationship examined to the outcome. Significantly higher TNFalpha and IL-6 levels were seen in infants with sepsis compared to control. The TNFalpha levels significantly decreased in patients with sepsis, septic shock and the survivors, while the patients who did not survive, the levels showed no significant change after 48 hr. The initial levels of IL6 were comparatively higher in patients with septic shock and non-survivors, and increased at 48 hr of admission in patients with sepsis, septic shock and non-survivors.