SERUM LEVELS OF INTERLEUKIN-8 IN ALCOHOLIC LIVER-DISEASE - RELATIONSHIP WITH DISEASE STAGE, BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS AND SURVIVAL

Background/Aims: Interleukin-8 (IL-8), a cytokine produced by a host o f cells, including monocytes, macrophages, Kupffer cells and hepatocyt es, can activate neutrophils, Peripheral neutrophilia and liver neutro phil infiltration are frequently noted in patients with alcoholic live r disease, However, the relationship between IL-8 and different stages of alcoholic liver disease is uncertain, The aim of this study is to determine if a correlation exists between circulating IL-8 levels and biochemical and histological parameters and survival in alcoholic live r disease. Methods: Serum levels of IL-8 were determined with an enzym e-linked immunosorbent assay in 166 subjects, consisting of 30 healthy controls, 26 patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver, 15 with alcohol ic fatty liver, 32 with alcoholic hepatitis, 30 with alcoholic cirrhos is, 28 with chronic hepatitis B and 5 with chronic hepatitis C. Result s: Serum IL-8 levels were markedly elevated in patients with alcoholic hepatitis (437 +/- 51 pg/ml) when compared with all other groups (p < 0.05), Levels of IL-8 in patients with alcoholic fatty liver, alcohol ic cirrhosis and viral hepatitis were higher than those in controls an d in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver, In addition, IL-8 levels were higher in patients who died (p = 0.007), and correlated with bio chemical and histological parameters, and severity of liver injury: se rum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total biliru bin, prothrombin time, indocyanine green retention ratio, tumor necros is factor-alpha and peripheral neutrophil count in patients with alcoh olic hepatitis, After a 2-year follow up, patients with IL-8 above 479 pg/ml had a higher mortality rate in the alcoholic hepatitis group (p = 0.033). Conclusions: These findings suggest that IL-8 is activated in alcoholic liver disease, especially in alcoholic hepatitis, and is closely correlated with liver injury, IL-8 levels can reflect the stag e and severity of alcoholic liver disease, and may serve as a predicto r of survival in patients with alcoholic hepatitis.