PubMed · 1989 · 257 citations · 0 references
MedicineImmunologySurgeryImmunopathologyImmunoregulationInflammationAcute InflammationInflammatory Cell ResponsesInflammatory Response RegulationInflammatory Tissue InjuryMetabolic Response To SurgerySystemic Inflammatory ResponseHepatic Metabolic ResponseInflammatory Response To SurgeryInflammatory Tissue DamageMetabolic Response BiomarkersPostoperative Systemic Inflammatory ResponseSystemic Inflammation MarkersTissue Damage MechanismsTissue Damage Response
We have investigated changes in serum interleukin 6 (IL-6) in patients undergoing elective cholecystectomy. Serum IL-6 increased in all patients within 1.5 hour of incision, reaching a maximum between 1.5-4 hours after incision (median 50 U/ml; range 22-79 U/ml). The maximum serum IL-6 correlated with the length of the operation (r = 0.95). Serum C-reactive protein was not detectable until 8-12 hours post-incision, but maximum serum C-reactive protein did not correlate with maximum serum IL-6 concentration or length of operation. There was no consistent increase in plasma interleukin 1 or tumour necrosis factor following surgery. Serum IL-6 is an early marker of tissue damage and may be of value in the study of the metabolic response to injury.