Serum interleukin-6 levels in patients with biliary obstruction.
OBJECTIVE
The clinical significance of the interleukin-6 (IL-6) response in patients with biliary obstruction was studied.


METHODS
This study included 30 patients who had biliary obstruction and underwent percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage. Cases complicated by cholangitis were excluded. The serum levels of IL-6 and standard liver function tests were examined before and after biliary drainage.


RESULTS
Serum IL-6 levels were significantly higher in patients with biliary obstruction compared to control subjects (p<0.05). After drainage, serum IL-6 levels decreased significantly (p<0.01). The patients with serum IL-6 levels exceeding 10 pg/ml were characterized by lower hepaplastin values, lower serum levels of total protein and albumin, higher mean age, and more frequently positive cultures of bile compared to those with serum IL-6 levels of less than 10 pg/ml. Serum IL-6 levels were correlated negatively with hepaplastin values and serum levels of total protein and albumin (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that subclinical biliary infection, liver dysfunction and advanced age promote the IL-6 response in patients with biliary obstruction. Such a cytokine response may disturb the physiologic immune response after the ensuing major operation and may be related to some post-operative complications.
Kimura
F
F
Department of Surgery, Omiya Red Cross Hospital, Kamiochiai, Yono, Japan.
Miyazaki
M
M
Suwa
T
T
Sugiura
T
T
Shinoda
T
T
Itoh
H
H
Ambiru
S
S
Shimizu
H
H
Nakagawa
K
K
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007202:Indicators and Reagents / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000276:immunology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism
D001798:Blood Proteins; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D015850:Interleukin-6; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D012709:Serum Albumin; C013014:hepaplastin; D001663:Bilirubin