Much is still unknown concerning the immunological characterization of these patients. The role of procalcitonin (PCT) and different cytokines has been the most evaluated [3–7]. Deficiency or decreased levels of mannose-binding lectin (MBL), a key

recognition molecule in the complement lectin pathway [8], have been associated with a serious infectious outcome [9–13], Selleck Gefitinib but the results are controversial [14, 15]. There are several possible reasons for this. MBL deficiency is associated with different phenotypes depending on the status of the rest of the immune system. Experimental animal studies are strictly different from clinical studies, and the clinical studies are often heterogeneous and difficult to compare. Finally, different methods for MBL quantification might give different results and are not directly comparable. The impact of different antibiotic regimens on the immune profiles of febrile neutropenic patients is poorly understood. In this study, constituting a subgroup of patients included in a prospective randomized study [16], we hypothesized that, by blood testing for cytokine levels at the onset of episodes of febrile neutropenia and 1–2 days later in patients undergoing high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell support,

we would find clinically useful prognostic markers for the severity and course of the febrile neutropenic episodes. In addition, we wanted to characterize

the immune responses Cell Cycle inhibitor in these patients. Protein synthesis–active agents, like tobramycin, do have immunomodulatory effects [17]. We also wanted to study whether the dosing regimen of tobramycin, once daily followed by a higher peak concentration versus three times daily followed by a significantly lower peak concentration, affects the cytokine levels. Approximately half of patients received tobramycin once daily and the other half received tobramycin three times daily. Patients, high-dose regimen and blood next samples.  Patients were recruited from one of the institutions participating in a prospective randomized clinical study, comparing tobramycin once versus three times daily, given with penicillin G to febrile neutropenic patients. This study was approved by the local institutional review board and the regional committee for medical research ethics and conducted in accordance with the ethical standards of the Helsinki Declaration (The Regional Committee for Medical Research Ethics, Health Region South, Norway, approved the study protocol on 25 May 2001, reference number S-01111). The informed consent of this study included stating acceptance of supplementary blood samples for later scientific research such as the study we present. All patients had malignant lymphoma and were included between 2001 and 2005 when they developed febrile neutropenia after high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell support.