ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Intensive Care
doi: 10.25005/2074-0581-2026-28-2-313-324
INCREASED SERUM LEVELS OF INTERLEUKINS IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, AND IL-18 AS PREDICTORS OF ADVERSE OUTCOMES IN COVID-19-RELATED ACUTE RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME

B.S. SHAPOSHNIKOV, A.N. OBEDIN, M.V. GOLUBEVA, YU.V. BYKOV, N.M. ISHKOVA, O.A. MUSAELYAN, YU.V. BORISOVA

Stavropol State Medical University, Stavropol, Russian Federation

Objective: The study evaluated the dynamics of interleukin (IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, and IL-18) levels in the serum of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) during severe and critical COVID-19 to determine their prognostic significance.

Methods: Seventy participants were examined: 50 patients with COVID-19 (mean age 45.5 years) and 20 healthy volunteers (mean age 42.5 years). Patients were divided into two subgroups: 1 – severe course (n=30, survivors) and 2 – critical course (n=20, non-survivors). Serum levels of IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, and IL-18 were measured on days 3, 5, 7, 10, and 16 using ELISA. The respiratory index (RI) and its correlation with interleukin levels were also assessed.

Results: COVID-19 patients showed a statistically significant increase in IL-6, IL-10, and IL-17 levels, peaking on day 10: IL-6 (29.9±1.1 pg/mL in subgroup 2), IL-10 (26.3±1.3 pg/mL), and IL-17 (33.1±1.3 pg/mL); p<0.001 for all. Non-survivors showed a negative correlation between RI and interleukin levels. ROC analysis indicated that IL-6 levels >22.2 pg/mL on day 7 serve as an early prognostic marker of mortality.

Conclusion: Early in the disease, elevated levels of IL-6, IL-10, and IL-17 are associated with ARDS and a high risk of mortality; furthermore, an IL-6 level >22.2 pg/mL on day 7 may serve as an early predictor of prognosis.

Keywords: COVID-19, acute respiratory distress syndrome, respiratory index, interleukin-6, interleukin-10, interleukin-17, interleukin-18, fatal outcome.

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Authors' information:

Shaposhnikov Boris Sergeevich,
Assistant Professor at the Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Stavropol State Medical University
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-3333-2058
E-mail: mackisaew@yandex.ru

Obedin Alexander Nikolaevich,
Doctor of Medical Sciences, Head of the Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine with a Course in Advanced Medical Education, Stavropol State Medical University
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-9990-7272
E-mail: volander@mail.ru

Golubeva Marina Viktorovna,
Doctor of Medical Sciences, Full Professor, Head of the Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Stavropol State Medical University
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-0225-3672
E-mail: mmvg@rambler.ru

Bykov Yuri Vitalievich,
Candidate of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine with a Course in Advanced Medical Education, Stavropol State Medical University
ORCID ID: 0000-0003-4705-3823
E-mail: yubykov@gmail.com

Ishkova Natalia Mikhaylovna,
Candidate of Medical Sciences, Assistant Professor at the Department of Biochemistry, Laboratory Diagnostics and Bacteriology with a Course in Advanced Medical Education, Stavropol State Medical University
ORCID ID: 0009-0002-4050-1283
E-mail: is-hkova@yandex.ru

Musaelyan Olga Araratovna,
Candidate of Medical Sciences, Assistant Professor of the Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Stavropol State Medical University
ORCID ID: 0000-0003-3509-3481
E-mail: olga.stv@mail.ru

Borisova Yulia Vladimirovna,
Candidate of Medical Sciences, Assistant Professor at the Department of Biochemistry, Laboratory Diagnostics and Bacteriology with a Course in Advanced Medical Education, Stavropol State Medical University
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-0013-7723
E-mail: borisova.ula@gmail.com

Information about support in the form of grants, equipment, medications

The authors did not receive financial support from manufacturers of medicines and medical equipment

Conflicts of interest: No conflict

Address for correspondence:

Bykov Yuri Vitalievich
Candidate of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of An- esthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine with a Course in Advanced Medical Education, Stavropol State Medical University

355031, Russian Federation, Stavropol, Mira str., 310

Теl.: + 7 (962) 4430492

E-mail: yubykov@gmail.com


This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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