Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and interleukin (IL)-8 in sera from patients with Staphylococcus aureus septicemia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the concentrations of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and interleukin (IL)-8 in sera from patients with Staphylococcus aureus septicemia and to correlate the results to peripheral neutrophil counts and the clinical outcome. METHODS: Serum samples from 64 consecutive patients with S. aureus septicemia were sequentially collected in a prospective study. RESULTS: The mean plus minus standard deviation (SD) serum G-CSF value on admission was 348 plus minus 830 with a range of 8 to 5400 pg/mL. G-CSF concentrations were elevated (> 76 pg/mL) in 38/64 patients (59%) as were serum IL-8 concentrations (> 67 pg/mL) in 23/64 patients (36%) on admission. The mean plus minus SD IL-8 value was 266 plus minus 422 pg/mL with a range of 2 to 1366 pg/mL. A correlation was found between serum IL-8 and white blood cell count on admission (p=0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with uncomplicated septicemia frequently have elevated G-CSF values (84%) in comparison to patients with complicated septicemia (49%; p=0.02), indicating a possible protective effect of G-CSF in septic complications.