目的：轮状病毒是世界范围内婴幼儿腹泻的主要病原体之一,但其发病机制尚不完全清楚。该研究旨在探讨急性轮状病毒肠炎患儿血清及粪便上清液中白细胞介素1-8(IL-18)和干扰素γ(IFNγ)含量的变化及临床意义。方法：收集2004年7月至2005年2月间50例因急性轮状病毒肠炎入住兰州大学第一医院及西固区医院儿科的患儿粪便及血清,用酶联免疫吸附试验检测IL-18及IFNγ的含量。选取21例同龄正常儿童血清及粪便作对照。结果：50例急性轮状病毒肠炎患儿的血清及粪便IL-18,IFNγ含量均较正常对照组明显升高(P<0.01或0.05),而且血清IFNγ含量与呕吐次数呈负相关(r=-0.368,P<0.05),粪便IL-18含量与腹泻次数呈负相关(r=-0.414,P<0.05),血清IL18含量与血清IFNγ含量呈正相关性(r=0.416,P<0.05)。结论：IL18及IFNγ在婴幼儿急性轮状病毒感染时血清和粪便中明显升高,且与病情的严重程度有关,可能在轮状病毒感染早期发挥抗病毒作用。

OBJECTIVE: To study the variation and significance of serum and stool IL-18 and IFN-γ levels in children with rotavirus enteritis. METHODS: Serum and stool specimens from 50 children with acute rotavirus enteritis were collected before treatment. Serum and stool levels of IL-18 and IFN-γ were measured using ELISA. Serum and stool specimens from 21 age and gender-matched healthy children were used as the Control group. RESULTS: Serum and stool levels of IL-18 and IFN-γ in patients with rotavirus enteritis were significantly higher than those in the Control group. There was a negative correlation between the serum IFN-γ level and the frequency of vomiting (r=-0.368, P<0.05). The stool IL-18 level negatively correlated to the frequency of diarrhea (r=-0.414, P<0.05). A positive correlation was found between the serum levels of IL-18 and IFN-γ (r=0.416, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Serum and stool levels of IL-18 and IFN-γ were increased and associated with the severity in children with rotavirus enteritis. IL-18 and IFN-γ might have protective effects against acute rotavirus infection at the early stage.