Serum TNF-alpha and interleukin-4 (IL-4) levels in patients with Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever

Abstract number: P2185

Kinikli S., Yilmaz N., Cesur S., Bulut C., Aydemir A., Irmak H., Pekcan Demiroz A., Kinikli G.

Objectives: Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a zoonotic infection mainly transmitted by ticks. In Turkey, spordic and endemic CCHF cases have been reported.

The aim of this study is to compare serum TNF-alpha and interleukin-4 (IL-4) levels in patients diagnosed with CCHF with those in healthy controls.

Methods: Forty-two adult patients diagnosed with CCHF based upon clinical and laboratory findings and 40 healthy adult volunteeers were included in the study. The diagnosis of CCHF was made with IgM positivity or 4 fold increase in IgG titration and/or Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) positivity. In the sera of patient and control groups, TNF-alpha and IL-4 levels were measured according to recommendations of the manufacturer.

Serum TNF-alpha and IL-4 levels in patient and control groups were compared statistically by using Student's t test.

Results: Serum TNF-alpha and IL-4 levels were found to be significantly higher in patients with CCHF than those found in healthy controls (p:000, p < 0.05 significant). Results are shown in the Table.

Table. Serum TNF-a and IL-4 levels in patients with CCHF and healthy subjects

Conclusion: Tha fact that serum TNF-alpha, a proinflammatory cytokine, and IL-4, an anti-inflammatory cytokine, levels were found to be significantly higher in patients with CCHF than those in control group suggests that cellular immune response (Th1 and Th2) may play an important role in this disease. In order to determine the role of cytokines in the pathogenesis of CCHF, further studies with larger samples are required.