In this preliminary study, we observed a persistent, strong pro-inflammatory cytokine milieu in pSLE patients which reflects ongoing inflammatory damage in different organs. The gene expression profile of these cytokines may be used for assessing organ involvement in pSLE. IL-17 may also serve as a prognostic marker in pSLE. However, longitudinal studies on treatment of naïve patients are required to corroborate these findings.

Gram negative multidrug resistant organisms were the main cause of septicemia in all the age groups. Therefore great caution is required in selection of antibiotic therapy.

No abstract

Probiotics supplementation for 7 days resulted in significant decrease in proinflammatory and increase in antiinflammatory cytokines in children with severe sepsis.