Increased interleukin-10 levels correlate with bacteremia and sepsis in febrile neutropenia pediatric oncology patients.

Background: Early diagnosis of bacteremia and sepsis in pediatric oncology patients with febrile neutropenia still remains unresolved task due to lack of sensitive and specific laboratory markers particularly at the beginning of the infectious process. The objective of our study was to assess the potentiality of interleukin-10 (IL-10) to predict or exclude bacteremia or sepsis at the beginning of febrile episode in childhood oncology patients.

Methods: A total of 36 febrile neutropenic episodes in 24 children were studied. Serum samples were collected after confirmation of febrile neutropenia and analyzed using automated random access analyzer.

Results: The sensitivity of IL-10 was 73% and specificity - 92% (cut-off=18pg/ml, area under the curve - 0.87, 95% CI for sensitivity 39-94%, 95% CI for specificity 74-99%) with negative predictive value (NPV) - 83%.

Conclusions: IL-10 evaluation might be used as an additional diagnostic tool for clinicians in excluding bacteremia or clinical sepsis in oncology patients with febrile neutropenia because of high NPV and specificity.