Clinical significance of serum cytokines(IL-6,IL-8,TNF) in early diagnosis of severe acute pancreatitis

Objective To examine the clinical significance of cytokines (interleukin IL-6,IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor TNF-alpha) in early diagnosis of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). Methods Thirty-six patients with acute pancreatitis were evaluated. Age-matched controls were obtained from healthy volunteers. Levels of IL-6,IL-8 and TNF-α were obtained within 24 hours of admission. Ranson′s prognostic signs and APACHE-Ⅱscore were used to differentiate patients into mild and severe pancreatitis. Results There was significant difference in IL-6 levels between controls and mild pancreatitis,controls and severe pancreatitis,and mild and severe pancreatitis. IL-8 levels were significantly different between controls and severe pancreatitis and mild and severe pancreatitis. There was no significant difference between controls and mild pancreatitis. The results for TNF-α were similar to the findings for IL-8. Conclusions IL-6,IL-8 and TNF-α can be used independently in differentiating mild acute pancreatitis from early severe acute pancreatitis.