Effects of perioperative protease inhibitor on inflammatory cytokines and acute-phase proteins in patients with hepatic resection

Aim: The objective of this study was to examine the effects of perioperativ e administration of ulinastatin, or urinary trypsin inhibitor (UTI), on inf lammatory cytokines and acute-phase proteins induced by inflammatory cytoki nes in patients who had undergone hepatic resection, Method: Twenty patient s admitted to the hospital for hepatic resection were equally randomized to one of two groups: the UTI group, those who were administered perioperativ e UTI, and the control group. Results: The UTI group had no adverse effects from using UTI, Production of serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) tended to be atte nuated in the UTI group when compared with the control group. Moreover, the UTI group had significantly decreased positive acute-phase C-reactive prot ein (p < 0.05) and significantly increased negative acute-phase protein pre albumin and retinol-binding protein (p < 0.05), Serum IL-6 levels significa ntly correlated with serum C-reactive protein levels on postoperative day 1 (r = 0.70, p < 0.01). Conclusion: These results suggest that perioperative administration of UTI might deserve further assessment for use in modulati ng acute-phase responses without adverse effects in patients who have under gone hepatic resection, Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.