IL-6 and IFNγ are elevated in severe mumps cases: a study of 960 mumps patients in China

Abstract

Introduction: Mumps is a common infectious disease. Epidemics of mumps are reported globally every year and represent a threat to public health, especially in China and other developing countries.

Methodology: Clinical and laboratory findings of 960 mumps patients admitted to Beijing You’an Hospital, China, between January 2010 and December 2012 were collected and analyzed. Patients with isolated complication were selected and grouped as aseptic meningitis/encephalitis (AME) patients (n = 156) and Orchitis patients (n = 72). One hundred and fifty patients without complication were grouped as control. Levels of T cell subtypes and 8 serum cytokines were also tested.

Results: Majority of mumps patients were male (76.3%) and younger than 17 years old (76.2%). AME was complicated in 41.6% of mumps cases, and orchitis was in 21.3% (64.7% were left-sided). Unvacinated patients had more chance to have AME or orchitis (p = 0.034 and 0.027). The rates of AME and orchitis in mumps patients rapidly increased during the last three years. No laboratory findings were associated with AME or orchitis (all p > 0.05). Serum IL-10 level was elevated in almost all patients. IL-6 and IFNγ levels were correlated with AME (p = 0.025 and p = 0.018). Their levels peaked at day one after admission, and started to decline thereafter.

Conclusions: This study suggests that the incidence of serious complications has become more common in recent years, moreover IL-6 and IFNγ may possibly be used as early serum markers for identifying patients with risk of developing complications in mumps.