Table 3

Correlation matrix of plasma cortisol concentration versus LPS-stimulated whole blood in vitro cytokine production


IL-1β production
 IL-6 production
 TNF production




r
 p
 r
 p
 r
 p
Control subjects
 09:00
 -0.09
 0.6
 -0.001
 1.0
 -0.39
 0.02

Admission matched†
 0.18
 0.3
 -0.02
 0.9
 -0.06
 0.7
Patients
 Admission
 -0.57
 < 0.001
 -0.59
 < 0.001
 -0.72
 < 0.001

24 hours
 -0.65
 < 0.001
 -0.64
 < 0.001
 -0.67
 < 0.001

5–7 days
 -0.58
 0.001
 -0.48
 0.006
 -0.68
 < 0.001

3 months
 -0.05
 0.8
 -0.13
 0.5
 -0.10
 0.6

12 months
 -0.35
 0.2
 -0.09
 0.7
 -0.17
 0.5

r values are Rank Spearman correlation coefficients

†admission matched data includes 09:00 values if admission was between 07:00 and 11:00

Emsley et al. BMC Neurology 2007 7:5   doi:10.1186/1471-2377-7-5