Elevated serum interleukin 6 levels in patients with acute intestinal ischemia.
OBJECTIVE
Early diagnosis of patients with acute intestinal ischemia may be possible by measuring serum cytokine levels.


METHODS
Forty-six patients presenting in emergency with an acute abdomen where intestinal ischemia was a possible diagnosis were evaluated. A single blood sample was collected in emergency prior to any intervention and the patients were then followed prospectively. Serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 levels were determined at a later date. Serum levels in patients with proven acute intestinal ischemia were compared to patients with other diagnoses.


RESULTS
Serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels were moderately increased in patients with acute intestinal ischemia compared to controls 96.9 +/- 98.9 pg/mL vs. 60.8 +/- 63.7 pg/mL, P = 0.16. Serum interleukin-6 levels were significantly increased in patients with acute intestinal ischemia, 15.778 +/- 21.349 pg/mL vs. 2.844 +/- 5.625 pg/mL, P = 0.01.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum interleukin-6 levels may prove useful in diagnosing patients with acute intestinal ischemia.
Department of Surgery, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada. Francis.Sutherland@CRHA-Health.ab.ca
Francis
F
Sutherland
Hans
H
Cunningham
Leon
L
Pontikes
Louise
L
Parsons
John
J
Klassen
D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D007422:Intestines / Q000098:blood supply*; D007511:Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis
D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha