BACKGROUND/AIMS: The clinical significance of the interleukin-6 (IL-6) resp
onse in patients with biliary obstruction was studied.
METHODOLOGY: This study included 30 patients who had biliary obstruction an
d underwent percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage. Cases complicated b
y cholangitis were excluded. The serum levels of IL-6 and standard liver fu
nction tests were examined before and after biliary drainage.
RESULTS: Serum IL-6 levels were significantly higher in patients with bilia
ry obstruction compared to control subjects (p<0.05). After drainage, serum
IL-6 levels decreased significantly (p<0.01). The patients with serum IL-6
levels exceeding 10 pg/ml were characterized by lower hepaplastin values,
lower serum levels of total protein and albumin, higher mean age, and more
frequently positive cultures of bile compared to those with serum IL-6 leve
ls of less than 10 pg/ml. Serum IL-6 levels were correlated negatively with
hepaplastin values and serum levels of total protein and albumin (p < 0.05
).
CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that subclinical biliary infection, live
r dysfunction and advanced age promote the IL-6 response in patients with b
iliary obstruction. Such a cytokine response may disturb the physiologic im
mune response after the ensuing major operation and may be related to some
post-operative complications.