Cytokine levels in sputum of patients with tracheostomy and profound multiple disabilities.

Abstract Background. Airway immunopathogenesis is unclear in patients with profound multiple disabilities (PMD) who undergo tracheostomy. Methods. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and IL-12p70 cytokines were determined in sputum of 28 patients with PMD who underwent tracheostomy and in 14 healthy subjects, using a cytometric bead array. Results. The concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8 in the patients were significantly higher than those in controls ( p p p Conclusion. PMD patients with tracheostomy have chronic airway inflammation.