Relationship between Degree of Cirrhotic Damage and the Levels of Interleukin-8 and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α in Serum and Ascitic Fluid

Aims: To investigate the dynamic changes of interleukin (IL)-8 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in serum and ascitic fluid of patients with posthepatitic cirrhosis, and to explore the role of IL-8 and TNF-α in the development and progression of hepatic cirrhosis. Methods: Dynamic changes of the serum and ascitic fluid levels of IL-8 and TNF-α in 36 patients with cirrhosis were detected by double-monoclonal-antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and radioimmunoassay (RIA). Results: The serum and ascitic fluid levels of IL-8 and TNF-α in cirrhotic patients complicated by spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) were significantly higher than those in the control group and higher than those in cirrhotic patients without SBP. In the control group, the serum and ascitic fluid levels of IL-8 and TNF-α were less than those in the cirrhotic patients without SBP (P0.05-0.01), these levels gradually decreased in cirrhotics complicated with SBP after antibacterial treatment for 7 days and normalized in 4 weeks. The serum and ascitic fluid levels of IL-8 and TNF-α were significantly increased when complicated with SBP and impairment of renal function. Conclusions: It is useful to test the serum and ascitic fluid levels of IL-8 and TNF-α, particularly after the antibacterial therapy in cirrhotic patients complicated with SBP. The ascitic fluid levels of IL-8 and TNF-α can reflect the degree of infection in the ascites. Higher levels of IL-8 and TNF-α in cirrhotic patients with SBP may possibly play a role in the pathogenesis of renal function impairment.