Effect of antimicrobial agents on inflammatory cytokines in acute leptospirosis

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the inflammatory cytokine response and possible association with antimicrobial treatment with penicillin, ceftriaxone, and doxycycline in acute leptospirosis. In the early acute stage, interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels were higher in mild cases than in severe cases (P 0.01). IL-6 and IL-8 levels were low in patients who received >5 antimicrobial doses (P <0.01). IL-8 levels were negatively correlated with the number of ceftriaxone doses administered (r 0.315; P 0.031). Further studies are needed to evaluate the possible downregu-lation of proinflammatory cytokines by ceftriaxone in leptospirosis.