Background: Trauma has previously been shown to influence interleukin (IL)‐6 and IL‐10 levels, but the association of injury severity and mortality with IL‐6 and IL‐10 responses in the early phase of accidental trauma remains to be investigated. We wished to describe serum levels of IL‐6 and IL‐10 in the first 24 h after trauma and to assess the relationship with severity of injury and mortality.

Methods: Prospective, descriptive cohort study in a Level 1 trauma centre, Copenhagen, Denmark. We included 265 consecutive adult trauma patients admitted directly from the accident scene during an 18‐month period. Serum levels of IL‐6 and IL‐10 were measured upon arrival and at 6, 12, and 24 h after admittance using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Correlation analysis was used to assess the relationship between Injury Severity Score (ISS) and levels of IL‐6 and IL‐10. Analysis of variance was used to describe the IL‐6 and IL‐10 concentrations in relation to 30‐day mortality in a mixed‐effect model repeated measures analysis.

Results: Mortality was 10.9% (29/265) at 30 days. A significant increase of both IL‐6 and IL‐10 concentrations was found over time, and a significant correlation was found between ISS and the levels of both IL‐6 and IL‐10 at all sampling points. Serum concentrations of IL‐6 and IL‐10 were significantly higher in patients not surviving 30 days (P<0.0001).

Conclusion: The early systemic inflammatory response measured as IL‐6 and IL‐10 in serum is correlated with injury severity and 30‐day mortality following trauma.