In the clinic, levels of HMGB1 in nasopharyngeal aspirates in hospitalized infants with RSV bronchiolitis [median (interquartile range) 161.20 ng/ml (68.06-221.30)] were significantly higher than those without lower respiratory tract infections [21.94 ng/ml (12.12-59.82); P < 0.001].
Our study findings show that nasal HMGB1 levels significantly differentiate between young children with bronchiolitis who were hospitalized compared to those fit for discharge.