Abstract: Objective To investigate the change of cytokines (IL-6, IL-10, PCT, CRP, and NEUT) and the indicators of immunity (CD4+, CD8+, CD4+/CD8+) in the patients with sepsis so as to determine the association of the markers with severity of the disease. Methods Fifty-four patients were divided into moderate group (18 cases), severe group (19 cases) and septic shock group (17 cases). The levels of serum IL-6, IL-10, PCT, and CRP, the counts of WBC, NEUT, CD4+, and CD8+, and the ratio of CD4+ /CD8+ were measured in all of the patients and the correlation between the data and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE- II) was compared. Results The levels of PCT, CRP, IL-6, and IL-10, the counts of WBC and NEUT increased gradually, and the indicators of immunity (the number of CD4+ and CD8+, and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+) decreased (P<0.05) with exacerbation of sepsis. The levels of PCT, CRP, IL-6, IL-10, and the count of WBC in the patients were positively correlated with APACHE- II scores (P<0.05). As the contrary, the numbers of CD4+ and CD8+, and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ were negatively correlated with APACHE- II scores (P<0.05). Conclusion The inflammatory markers of PCT, CRP, IL-6, and IL-10 as well as the count of WBC in septic patients were elevated while the numbers of CD4+ and CD8+, and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ decreased with deterioration of the disease.

Key words: Sepsis, Inflammatory cytokines, Indicators of immunity