IntroductionThe inflammatory marker patterns of community-acquired Pneumonia (CAP) induced by different microorganisms in adult patients remained unclear. ObjectivesWe aim to explore the inflammatory marker patterns of adult CAP patients induced by different pathogens. MethodsAdult CAP patients with definite etiologies were enrolled from September 2010 to June 2012. They were divided into three groups according to the causative pathogens: typical bacteria, Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP), and viruses. Twenty-seven cytokines and bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI) levels of serum collected within 7 days onset in these groups were compared. ResultsOne hundred twenty-four cases were enrolled for serum detection and analysis, including 10 typical bacterial pneumonia patients, 56 cases with MP pneumonia and 58 with viral pneumonia. Three kinds (PDGF-BB, IP-10, RANTES) of 27 cytokines and BPI levels were significantly elevated in patients with acute pneumonia than healthy controls. Distinct inflammatory marker patterns were released by different pathogens: typical bacterial pneumonia patients had highest levels of BPI, IL-6, IL-8, IL-1r; while patients caused by MP presented higher levels of PDGF-BB, IL-17A, G-CSF than those caused by viruses. Rhinovirus owned a higher inflammatory response level than the other viruses. The area under the curve (AUC) of PDGF-BB to differentiate MP and virus infection was biggest, which was 0.708. ConclusionDistinct inflammatory marker patterns were released by different pathogens during acute pneumonia. Significantly increased level of PDGF-BB was observed in acute pneumonia for the first time. It showed a better ability to differentiate MP and virus infection.