INCREASED SERUM INTERLEUKIN-6 LEVEL AND REDUCTION OF HEPATIC ACUTE-PHASE RESPONSE AFTER MAJOR HEPATECTOMY

It has been proposed that a major hepatectomy impairs the liver-relate d host defense mechanism, The changes in the levels of serum inflammat ory cytokines and plasma acute-phase proteins synthesized in the liver were measured after partial hepatectomy, Peak levels of serum interle ukin-6 were significantly higher after extended lobectomy than after l obectomy or segmentectomy (p < 0.01), Serum interleukin-1 beta and tum or necrosis factor alpha levels showed no significant changes, Plasma levels of acute-phase proteins were significantly lower after lobectom y or extended lobectomy (p < 0.05), A reduced hepatic acute-phase resp onse probably renders patients liable to infection after major hepatec tomy.