Cytokine storm
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A cytokine storm is an overreaction of the body's immune system. It can be deadly. It consists of a positive feedback loop between cytokines and immune cells.[1]
It is believed that cytokine storms were responsible for many of the deaths during the 1918 influenza pandemic, which killed a disproportionate number of young adults.[1] In this case, a healthy immune system may have been a liability rather than an asset. Preliminary research results from Hong Kong also suggest this as the probable reason for many deaths during the SARS epidemic in 2003.[2] Human deaths from the bird flu H5N1 usually involve cytokine storms as well.[3]
Related pages
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Osterholm, Michael T.. Preparing for the next pandemic. New England Journal of Medicine 352 (18) (2005). p. 1839–1842. doi:10.1056/NEJMp058068.
- ↑ Huang KJ. An interferon-gamma-related cytokine storm in SARS patients. Journal of Medical Virology 75 (2) (2005). p. 185–94. doi:10.1002/jmv.20255.
- ↑ Haque A, Hober D, Kasper LH. Confronting potential influenza A (H5N1) pandemic with better vaccines. Emerging Infectious Diseases 13 (10) (2007). p. 1512–8. doi:10.3201/eid1310.061262.