IL-6 detection based early diagnosis and prediction of systemic inflammatory response syndrome and sepsis in asymptomatic patients

A method of diagnosis of a risk to develop a systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) or sepsis in an asymptomatic human patient after an invasive treatment, the method comprising:

• detecting a first concentration of IL-6 by contacting in a first step of contacting, in vitro, a portion of a first sample selected from the group consisting of:
• serum, plasma and blood, with an antibody having specific binding affinity for IL-6, the first sample obtained from the human patient asymptomatic for SIRS or sepsis prior to the invasive treatment;
• multiplying the concentration of IL-6 in the first sample by a factor of at least 50 to establish a reference IL-6 level;
• detecting at least a second concentration of IL-6 by contacting in at least one second step of contacting, in vitro, a portion of at least a second sample selected from the group consisting of serum, plasma and blood with an antibody having specific binding affinity for IL-6, wherein the at least one second sample is obtained from the human patient asymptomatic for SIRS at intervals ranging from 15 minutes to 12 hours for a period of 3 to 10 days after the invasive treatment;
• comparing the reference IL-6 level with the concentration of IL-6 calculated in the at least one second sample;
• and
• identifying the human patient as at risk of developing SIRS or sepsis when the concentration of IL-6 in the at least one second sample is higher than the reference IL-6 level;
• and
• administering to the human patient identified as at risk of developing SIRS or sepsis at least one of a broad spectrum antibiotic treatment, a change of pre-existent antibiotic treatment to a more efficient one, and an antifungal treatment.