Rawlings, Stephen AHeldt, SvenPrattes, JuergenEigl, SusanneJenks, Jeffrey DFlick, HolgerRabensteiner, JasminPrüller, FlorianWölfler, AlbertNeumeister, PeterStrohmaier, HeimoKrause, RobertHoenigl, Martin2023-08-012023-08-012019-011664-32241664-3224https://hdl.handle.net/10161/28627<b>Background:</b> Molds and other pathogens induce elevated levels of several cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8. The objective of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of IL-6 and IL-8 as well as fungal biomarkers in blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) for overall survival in patients with underlying hematological malignancies and suspected mold infection. <b>Methods:</b> This cohort study included 106 prospectively enrolled adult cases undergoing bronchoscopy. Blood samples were collected within 24 h of BAL sampling and, in a subset of 62 patients, serial blood samples were collected up until 4 days after bronchoscopy. IL-6, IL-8, and other cytokines as well as galactomannan (GM) and β-D-glucan (BDG) were assayed in blood and BAL fluid and associations with overall mortality were assessed at the end of the study using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. <b>Results:</b> Both blood IL-8 (AUC 0.731) and blood IL-6 (AUC 0.699) as well as BAL IL-6 (AUC 0.763) and BAL IL-8 (AUC 0.700) levels at the time of bronchoscopy were predictors of 30-day all-cause mortality. Increasing blood IL-6 levels between bronchoscopy and day four after bronchoscopy were significantly associated with higher 90-day mortality, with similar findings for increasing IL-8 levels. In ROC analysis the difference of blood IL-8 levels between 4 days after bronchoscopy and the day of bronchoscopy had an AUC of 0.829 (95%CI 0.71-0.95; <i>p</i> < 0.001) for predicting 90-day mortality. <b>Conclusions:</b> Elevated levels of IL-6 and IL-8 in blood or BAL fluid at the time of bronchoscopy, and rising levels in blood 4 days following bronchoscopy were predictive of mortality in these patients with underlying hematological malignancy who underwent bronchoscopy for suspected mold infection.Bronchoalveolar Lavage FluidHumansFungiRespiratory Tract InfectionsHematologic NeoplasmsGalactoseMannansInterleukin-8Interleukin-6BronchoscopyProspective StudiesROC CurveAdultAgedAged, 80 and overMiddle AgedFemaleMaleBiomarkersUsing Interleukin 6 and 8 in Blood and Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid to Predict Survival in Hematological Malignancy Patients With Suspected Pulmonary Mold Infection.Journal article2023-08-01