SERUM LEVELS OF INTERLEUKIN-1-ALPHA, INTERLEUKIN-1-BETA, INTERLEUKIN-6, AND TUMOR-NECROSIS-FACTOR IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE VIRAL-HEPATITIS

Serum levels of interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), interleukin-1 beta ( IL-1 beta), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF -alpha) in patients with acute viral hepatitis were investigated. Twel ve patients suffering from acute viral hepatitis were studied; 8 patie nts presented with acute hepatitis B, 2 patients with acute hepatitis A, and 2 patients with acute hepatitis C. Serum levels of IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha were significantly increased in all pat ients with acute viral hepatitis. Decreased serum levels of all cytoki nes were noted in four patients with acute hepatitis B during the reco very phase of infection. In addition, IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha were undetectable at the end of a follow-up period of 6 mon ths. Our study shows that increased levels of IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, I L-6, and TNF-alpha are probably related to hepatitis activity and thus may have some role in hepatocytic injury.