title: The effect of halothane and isoflurane on plasma cytokine levels.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of halothane vs. isoflurane on cytokine production during minor elective surgery. Forty adult patients, ASA I-II were randomly allocated to receive halothane or isoflurane. Venous samples for interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-2, IL-6, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) were taken before anaesthesia, before incision, at the end of anaesthesia and 24 h postoperatively. In both groups, IL-6 and TNF-alpha levels remained low throughout the study period. Before incision, in both groups IL-1beta and IFN-gamma showed a decrease (p<0.01 for IL-1beta in isoflurane group and p<0.05 for the others) compared with pre-induction. By the end of anaesthesia and surgery, IL-1beta had increased significantly (p<0.05) and IFN-gamma had decreased significantly (p<0.05) in both groups compared with pre-incisional levels. By 24 h postoperatively in both groups, IL-1beta had decreased significantly (p<0.05), whereas IFN-gamma had increased significantly (p<0.05) compared with the end of anaesthesia and surgery level. Pre-incisionally, IL-2 increased in the halothane group (p<0.01), whereas it decreased significantly in the isoflurane group (p<0.001) compared with the pre-induction level. By the end of anaesthesia and surgery and by 24 h postoperatively, IL-2 had decreased significantly in the halothane group (p<0.001), whereas it increased significantly in the isoflurane group (p<0.001) compared with pre-incision and end of anaesthesia and surgery levels, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Anaesthesia Department, Cairo University, 2 Abdel-Wahab Saleim St., Maadi, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Helmy
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Al-Attiyah
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006221:Halothane / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D007530:Isoflurane / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013511:Minor Surgical Procedures
chemical_list: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D016207:Cytokines; D007376:Interleukin-2; D007530:Isoflurane; D006221:Halothane