| Publication Type: | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication: | 1995 |
| Authors: | L. E. Cuevas, Borgnolo, G., Hailu, B., Smith, G., Almaviva, M., Hart, C. A. |
| Journal: | Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology |
| Volume: | 89 |
| Issue: | 1 |
| Pagination: | 49 - 54 |
| Date Published: | 1995 |
| ISBN Number: | 0003-4983 |
| Keywords: | adolescent, adult, animals, Borrelia, Chloramphenicol, Ethiopia, humans, Insect vectors, lice, Middle Aged, Relapsing Fever, Tetracycline/therapeutic use, Time Factors, tumor necrosis |
| Abstract: | The serum concentrations of tumour necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were studied in 25 patients with louse-borne relapsing fever, to evaluate their association with the level of bacteraemia, anti-borrelia chemotherapy and the presence of a Jarish-Herxheimer reaction (JHR). Although there was an association between the level of bacteraemia and the development of JHR and complications during treatment, TNF, IL-6 and CRP concentrations were not associated with the JHR. TNF concentrations increased after the administration of antibiotics and remained high for 24 h. IL-6 was elevated on admission but soon decreased. CRP was high on admission and remained so throughout the illness. The observed elevations in TNF, IL-6 and CRP may be associated more with the administration of antibiotics than with the presence of a JHR. |