Abstract: Objective To observe the expression of serum transforming growth factor-β （Transforming growth factor-β, TGF-β) and interleukin 23 (Interleukin 23, IL-23) in infants with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) pneumonia, and to analyze the possible relationship between TGF-β, IL-23 and the severity of the disease. Method The data of 100 infants with RSV pneumonia admitted to Chenzhou First People's Hospital from January 2021 to December 2023 were collected and included in the observation group. The data of 100 infants who underwent physical examination in the hospital during the same period were collected and included in the control group. The disease data and physical examination data of children and healthy infants were preserved intact. The observation group were divided into mild group (n=37) and severe group (n=63) according to the severity of the disease after admission. The levels of TGF-β and IL-23 in the control group and children with different severity of disease, the baseline data of children with different severity of disease, and the levels of TGF-β and IL-23 were compared. The correlation between serum TGF-β and IL-23 and the severity of respiratory syncytial virus pneumonia in infants was analyzed. Result Compared with the control group, the mild group and the severe group had lower TGF-β and higher IL-23; compared with the mild group, the TGF-β in the severe group was lower and the IL-23 was higher (P<0.05). Through Logistic regression analysis, the severity of RSV pneumonia in infants and young children may be related to TGF-β, and IL-23 levels (P<0.05). The ROC curve results showed that TGF-β and IL-23 at the time of admission had a certain efficacy in assessing severe illness, with AUC greater than 0.70 and evaluation value. Moreover, the combined evaluation AUC of the two was 0.937, indicating better evaluation value (P<0.05). Conclusion The serum levels of TGF-β and IL-23 in infants with RSV pneumonia are generally low and high, and the two are related to the severity of the disease. The more severe the disease, the lower the TGF-β and the higher the IL-23. The combined determination of TGF-β and IL-23 levels in infants with RSV pneumonia may be used to evaluate the severity of the disease in early stage.

Key words: Pneumonia, Respiratory syncytial virus, Transforming growth factor-β, Interleukin-23, Severity of the disease, Correlation