A BREAKTHROUGH study presented today at ESCMID Global 2025 has identified interleukin-6 (IL-6) as a promising biomarker for the early detection of sepsis in neonates, children, and pregnant women.
Sepsis remains a leading cause of death worldwide, claiming an estimated 11 million lives annually. Early diagnosis is critical but notoriously difficult, particularly in children and pregnant women, whose immune responses and physiology can mask the signs of infection. Current biomarkers such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) often fail to provide timely, specific results.
This retrospective cohort study, led by Dr Seán Whelan, evaluated 252 patients (111 children, 72 maternity, and 69 neonates) with suspected sepsis. IL-6 consistently outperformed CRP and PCT in distinguishing bacterial infections and assessing sepsis severity. The biomarker showed AUROC values of 0.91 in children, 0.94 in maternal patients, and 0.86 in neonates, indicating strong diagnostic accuracy.
IL-6 also demonstrated rapid elevation, peaking within six hours of infection onset, significantly faster than traditional biomarkers. It showed sensitivity above 90% in children and pregnant women and 97.1% specificity in neonates.
Dr Whelan noted that IL-6 is already in routine use at the Rotunda Hospital and Children’s Health Ireland at Temple Street, aided by advances in testing technology and wider use during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our findings reinforce IL-6’s potential as a transformative tool in sepsis diagnosis,” said Dr Whelan. “Earlier detection means earlier treatment, and that could save lives.”
The study calls for wider adoption of IL-6 testing alongside clinical judgement to improve outcomes in high-risk patients.
Aleksandra Zurowska, EMJ
Reference
Whelan SO et al. Interleukin-6 as a diagnostic biomarker for sepsis in neonates, children and pregnant women – a real-world cohort study. Abstract 04331. ESCMID Global, 11-15 April, 2025.
