Abstract
Severe lung diseases leading to respiratory failure are among the most frequent causes of critical conditions in childhood. The study aims to monitor systemic inflammatory response dependence on the degree of pulmonary injury using selected cytokines in pediatric patients.
Thirty-two patients with severe pulmonary injury and Lung Injury Score >1.0 leading to respiratory failure were included. Patients were monitored during the study for 48 hours, laboratory sampling was performed in the 1st, 12th, 24th and 48th hour of experiment.
On the set of critically ill children with severe pulmonary inpairment were detected early systemic cytokine response with signs of endothelial activation. Changes in the spectrum of cytokines in severe lung disease may indicate the influence of other organ systems, not only on the level of blood gases exchange alterations resulting in tissue hypoxia.