Serum concentrations of E‐selectin, P‐selectin, ICAM‐1 and interleukin 6 in acute leukaemia patients with chemotherapy‐induced leucopenia and bacterial infections

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Abstract
Summary. Serum concentrations of E‐selectin (CD62E), P‐selectin (CD62P), ICAM‐1 (CD54) and interleukin 6 were investigated in acute leukaemia patients with chemotherapy‐induced leucopenia and complicating bacterial infections. Serum concentrations of both E‐selectin and P‐selectin were decreased in the leucopenic patients without infections when compared with levels before chemotherapy; and serum concentrations of both E‐selectin and P‐selectin showed a further decrease during complicating bacterial infections. In contrast to the leukaemia patients, previously healthy individuals with meningococcal disease showed markedly elevated serum concentrations of E‐selectin and normal levels of P‐selectin during infection. Serum concentrations of ICAM‐1 and interleukin 6 increased during bacterial infections in the acute leukaemia patients with chemotherapy‐induced leucopenia. The alterations in serum concentrations of soluble adhesion molecules and interleukin 6 reversed when clinical signs of bacterial infections resolved during antibiotic therapy. Our results demonstrate that acute leukaemia patients with chemotherapy‐induced cytopenia show altered levels of both soluble adhesion molecules and interleukin 6 during complicating bacterial infections.