High levels of interleukin-10 during the initial phase of fulminant meningococcal septic shock.

Interleukin (IL)-10 has an important antiinflammatory effect by inhibiting endotoxin-induced production of proinflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha and IL-1. Since both cytokines are produced in massive amounts during fulminant meningococcal septic shock and are associated with severity of disease, IL-10 was measured in plasma samples of 25 consecutive children with fulminant meningococcal septic shock shortly after admittance to a pediatric intensive care unit. High levels of IL-10 (median, 6021 pg/mL; range, 137-24,600) were found in surviving patients (median, 1268 pg/mL; range, 137-24,600) and in those who died (median, 9915 pg/mL; range, 3996-14,100). IL-10 levels correlated weakly (r = .38; P = .055) with severity of disease as measured by the Glasgow meningococcal septicemia prognostic score. The findings indicate that IL-10 is produced in massive amounts in the initial phase of fulminant meningococcal septic shock.