Evaluation of interleukin 6 and interleukin 10 serum levels in patients with acute pancreatitis

Abstract

Background: There are still no simple markers for an early prediction of the outcome in acute pancreatitis (AP). The aim of our study was to evaluate serum levels of interleukin 6 and interleukin 10 in patients with acute pancreatitis, and answer the question whether the evaluation of these parameters is able to establish a prognosis in acute pancreatitis.
Material and methods: This study included 21 patients with mild acute pancreatitis (AP) and 13 patients with severe AP, with 3 deaths among them. Serum levels of IL-6 and IL-10 were determined on the day of admission (1 day) and on day 3 of the patient’s hospital stay.
Results: Serum levels of IL-6 and IL-10 were higher in severe acute pancreatitis both on the 1st and the 3rd day of hospitalization. The highest levels of both interleukins were observed among patients who died because of acute pancreatitis.
Conclusions: The evaluation of IL-6 and IL-10 serum levels indicates their great value in prognosticating severe acute pancreatitis and an unfavorable lethal outcome of disease.