Inflammatory Markers in the Serum and Bronchoalveolar Lavage in Children with Non-Cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis

It is known that inflammatory responses occur in the airways of patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis during respiratory exacerbations but the role of these cytokines is not clear in this condition. Herein we evaluated the levels of interleukin-1b (IL-1b), IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor a (TNF-a) in the serum and bronchoalveolar lavage among children with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis.
This cross-sectional study was performed on all children with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis who were admitted with respiratory exacerbation in the pediatric pulmonology ward of Masih Daneshvari Hospital, Tehran-Iran. All patients underwent fiberoptic bronchoscopy and spirometry before and after the bronchoscopy. IL-1b, IL-8, and TNF-a levels were measured in the serum and bronchoalveolar lavage.
Patients included 10 (59%) female and 7 (41%) male subjects with mean age of 13.8 years (range, 5-18). Mean values for forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) were below the normal range before and after bronchoscopy. Mean value for FVC (from 55% to 63%, P= 0.01) and FEV1 (from 60% to 64%, P= 0.26) increased after bronchoscopy compared to before that. IL-1b and IL-8 levels were increased and TNF-a level was decreased in the serum and bronchoalveolar lavage but no significant correlation was found between spirometry and these cytokines levels.
Changes in inflammatory cytokines levels in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage during respiratory exacerbation in patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis have no significant correlation with spirometry and cannot be used in clinical practice.