Serum levels of soluble CD163 and soluble CD14 following antibiotic therapy of patients with acute brucellosis

Introduction: Soluble CD163 (sCD163) and soluble CD14 (sCD14) levels, monocyte/macrophage activation markers, are elevated in patient serum during Brucella infection. The aim of this study was to measure serum sCD163 and sCD14 levels during treatment for acute brucellosis to determine whether they can be used to monitor treatment efficacy. Methodology: Blood samples were collected from 30 patients with acute brucellosis (disease duration < 8 weeks) before and after 6 weeks of antibiotic therapy as well as from a comparison group of 28 healthy control individuals. Serum sCD163 and sCD14 levels were measured with specific, sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The clinical data and routine indices including C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rates (ESR), as well as white cell counts (WBC) were also studied. Results: Both serum sCD163 and sCD14 levels were significantly higher in patients with acute brucellosis than in healthy controls (p < 0.0001). A significant decline was observed in patients after cessation of treatment (p < 0.001), which still be significantly higher than that in healthy controls (p < 0.001). In additional, serum sCD163 levels were positively correlated with sCD14 levels; both of which were positively associated with CRP levels. However, neither sCD163 nor sCD14 levels were correlated with ESR or WBC. Conclusions: The decline in sCD163 and sCD14 levels following antibiotic therapy may be used as a marker to assess therapeutic efficacy following treatment of acute brucellosis.