The importance of hematological indices as markers of endogenous intoxication in children with seasonal influenza and acute respiratory viral infections

Introduction. Influenza and other acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) account for a significant share in the structure of childhood infectious diseases. The determination of medium-weight molecules (MMM) and the calculation of leukocyte intoxication indices in respiratory pathology in children are of interest for studying and searching for informative markers.

The aim of the work: to determine the diagnostic significance of indices characterizing the state of endogenous intoxication in children with seasonal influenza and ARVI.

Materials and methods. One hundred twenty five patients were examined, of which 76 children diagnosed with influenza made up the main group (42 boys, 34 girls, average age of 5.2 ± 2.3 g), the comparison group consisted of 49 children diagnosed with acute respiratory viral infections (27 boys, 22 girls, average age 5.6 ± 2.5 yr). The control group consisted of 112 conditionally healthy children, groups of children being comparable in gender and age. The levels of MMM were determined by spectrophotometry. Statistical data analysis was performed with the Statistica 6.0 software.

Results. In patients with influenza, multiple correlations there were found between MMM and island-inflammatory proteins. The distribution coefficient in patients with influenza and ARVI did not differ significantly, while it significantly correlated in both groups with the rate of erythrocyte sedimentation and the level of C-reactive protein (CRP), (p = 0.000), the aromaticity coefficient and the peptide-nucleotide coefficient significantly correlated with the level of CRP in influenza (p < 0.05). The Garkavi index was higher in 67% of cases of influenza, 53% of cases of ARVI, the allergization index and the leukocyte intoxication index according to V.K. Ostrovsky’s was slightly elevated in children with ARVI.

Conclusion. The determination of MMM and the calculation of leukocyte intoxication indices in children with respiratory viral infection provides an objective assessment of the degree of endotoxicosis. The established correlations of the distribution coefficient with the indices of inflammation allow recommending its use in clinical practice.

Contribution:
Kazantseva E.D. — concept and design of the study, collection and processing of the material, statistical processing of the material, writing the text;
Darenskaya M.A. — collection and processing of the material;
Petrova A.G. — collection and processing of the material, writing the text;
Rychkova L.V., Semenova N.V., Kolesnikova L.I. — editing the text.
All co-authors — approval of the final version of the article, responsibility for the integrity of all parts of the article.

Acknowledgment. The study had no sponsorship.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Received: May 07, 2025
Accepted: May 20, 2025
Published: June 27, 2025

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