INTERLEUKIN-10 - ABILITY TO MINIMIZE POSTOPERATIVE INTRAPERITONEAL ADHESION FORMATION IN A MURINE MODEL

Objective: To determine the ability of interleukin 10 (IL-10) to suppr ess postoperative intraperitoneal adhesion formation. Design: Randomiz ed, controlled trial. Setting: University animal research facility. An imals: Six-week-old Swiss Webster mice undergoing a standardized intra peritoneal operative procedure. Interventions: Animals were randomized to ''surgery'' or ''no surgery'' and then further randomized to recei ve intraperitoneal injections of 1 mt phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or 1 mu g/kg IL-10 in 1 mt PBS. Vehicle-only doses were given immediat ely after surgery and then every 24 hours for a total of four injectio ns. Interleukin 10 injections were similarly given but with an added p reoperative injection 30 minutes before surgery in one half of the ani mals. Main Outcome Measure: Adhesion formation. Results: Animals treat ed with vehicle or IL-10 but not undergoing surgical intervention had no intraperitoneal adhesions. Animals undergoing surgery who were trea ted with IL-10, with or without a preoperative dose, had significantly lower postoperative adhesion scores than did control animals who post operatively received PBS only. Conclusion: Interleukin-10 is effective at limiting postoperative intraperitoneal adhesion formation with min imal evident systemic side effects.