Objectives: Myalgia is under-recognized in meningococcal disease (MCD). In septic shock, myositis is thought to be mediated by pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor-⍺ (TNF-⍺), interleukin-8 (IL-8) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) but this has never previously been studied in MCD. We aimed to demonstrate whether muscle damage mediated via TNF-⍺ and other pro-inflammatory cytokines occurs in MCD, as estimated by creatine kinase skeletal muscle isoenzyme (CK-MM) and cardiac isoenzyme (CK-MB) concentrations.

Methods: A total of 68 children, median age 2.7 years, with a diagnosis of MCD were prospectively studied. Severity of disease was measured using the Glasgow Meningococcal Septicaemia Prognostic Score (GMSPS). Severe disease was defined as a GMSPS of ≥8. TNF-⍺, IL-8, IL-6 and IL-1Ra concentrations were determined on samples taken on admission.

Results: CK-MM correlated significantly with TNF-⍺, IL-8 and GMSPS. There was no significant correlation between CK-MB and TNF-⍺ or IL-6, but CK-MB correlated with GMSPS and IL-8. Fifty-six percent of children with MCD had evidence of muscle damage as manifested by elevated CK-MM.

Conclusions: TNF-⍺ and IL-8 may be potential mediators in the pathophysiology of skeletal muscle damage in MCD.