Interleukin-6 in Critical Coronavirus Disease 2019, a Driver of Lung Inflammation of Systemic Origin?

• Published in: Critical care explorations Vol. 3; no. 10; p. e0542
• Main Authors: Aarskog, Nikolai Ravn, Aass, Hans Christian, Holter, Jan Cato, Rostrup, Morten, Holten, Aleksander Rygh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 28.09.2021; Wolters Kluwer
• Subjects: Brief Report
• ISSN: 2639-8028; 2639-8028
• DOI: 10.1097/CCE.0000000000000542

To examine whether interleukin-6 in critical coronavirus disease 2019 is higher in arterial than in central venous blood, as a sign of predominantly local pulmonal rather than systemic interleukin-6 production. DESIGNProspective cohort pilot study with repeated weekly measurements of interleukin-6 in arterial and central venous blood. Respiratory function, assessed with Pao2/Fio2 ratio, was measured at the time of blood sampling. SETTINGICU at a university hospital. SUBJECTSNine adult patients with critical coronavirus disease 2019, actively treated and receiving mechanical ventilation. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTSNo difference between arterial and central venous interleukin-6 was found. There was a significant negative relationship between interleukin-6 concentration and P/F ratio in both arterial (p = 0.04) and central venous (p = 0.03) blood. CONCLUSIONSThe absence of an arteriovenous interleukin-6 difference implies that interleukin-6 in critical coronavirus disease 2019 is mainly produced outside the lungs as part of a systemic inflammatory response syndrome and act as a driver of local inflammation and damage in the lungs.