Association of dynamic changes in serum cytokine levels with the severity of injury in patients suffering from closed chest traumas complicated with pulmonary contusions.

This study aimed to examine the dynamic changes in the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 in patients suffering from closed chest injuries and concomitant pulmonary contusions and their correlation with the Thoracic Trauma Severity Score (TTS) and Injury Severity Score (ISS). Patients with multiple traumas with an ISS >= 16 (n=41) were evaluated in the study. Patients included 21 individuals with trauma complicated by pulmonary contusion and 20 patients with trauma without contusion. Venous blood samples were collected from the patients on days 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 following trauma to assess serum levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-10, whose correlation with TTS and ISS was analyzed. Levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-10 remained significantly higher in the patients with trauma complicated by contusion compared to the patients with trauma without contusion (P<0.01). These three cytokines were positively correlated with TTS and ISS in the patients with trauma complicated by contusion. Serum TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-10 levels increased significantly in the patients with trauma complicated by pulmonary contusion. In conclusion, both cytokine assays and TTS facilitate the accurate assessment of the severity of chest injury.