The urinary and serum levels of IL-32 in children with febrile urinary tract infections

Abstract

Aim:

We assessed the urinary and serum levels of IL-32 in pediatric patients with acute pyelonephritis (APN) with and without renal scarring.

Results:

We enrolled children aged 2 months to 16 years with APN. Dimercaptosuccinic acid scans and ultrasonography studies were ordered for all patients, and a voiding. A total of 86 children (aged 57 ± 39 months, 74 [86%] female) were enrolled in this study. Group 1 was composed of 19 (16 female) patients, group 2 of 38 (35 female) patients and group 3 of 29 (23 female) patients. There were no significant differences in the serum and absolute urinary levels of IL-32 (UIL-32) between groups, but the urinary IL-32/creatinine ratio (UIL-32/Cr) was significantly higher in children with pyelonephritis than controls.

Lay abstract

Acute pyelonephritis (APN) is a serious infection for its effects on kidney structure and function. Dimercaptosuccinic acid scan is the gold standard for diagnosis of APN. The scan exposes patients to radiation and needs 6-month time to diagnosis of scar. We assessed the role of urinary and serum level of IL-32 in diagnosis of APN and anticipation of scarring. We showed that the serum and absolute urinary level of IL-32 are not helpful tools, however, urinary ratio of IL-32 to creatinine is significantly higher in pyelonephritic patients than healthy children, and could be useful. There was no difference between APN in children with scar and those without scar.