Serum profiles of interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and interleukin-10 in patients with severe and mild acute pancreatitis

Excessive leukocyte activation has been proposed as a key mechanism in the onset of acute pancreatitis. In this study, we assessed the systemic releas e of various inflammatory mediators and tried to identify differences betwe en patients with mild and severe disease. In a prospective study, 19 patien ts admitted for severe acute pancreatitis were compared with 24 patients wi th mild pancreatitis. Serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, and IL-10 were determined at the time of admission, and on days 1, 2, and 5 after ho spitalization. Severity of pancreatitis was determined according to the Atl anta criteria. IL-6 levels peaked on admission in both groups with signific ant differences (p < 0.05) from days 0-2. IL-8 levels increased from day 0 in severe cases, and from day 1 in mild cases, to reach a plateau between d ays 2 and 5; significant differences were observed on days 0 and 1. IL-10 w as highest on day 0; it decreased rapidly in mild cases but stayed signific antly higher from days 1 to 5 in severe cases. These findings provide new e vidence on the role of mediators of the inflammatory/antiinflammatory balan ce in acute pancreatitis. These molecules appear to be valuable early marke rs of severity.