Plasma interleukin-8 levels in patients with post-hepatitic cirrhosis: Relationship to severity of liver disease, portal hypertension and hyperdynamic circulation

ABSTRACT The present study investigated plasma levels of interleukin‐8 (IL‐8) in patients with post‐hepatitic cirrhosis and correlated it with the severity of liver diseases and haemodynamic parameters. Plasma IL‐8 levels were significantly higher in 57 post‐hepatitic cirrhotic patients (7.5 ± 1.8 pg/mL; P < 0.005) than those in 41 healthy subjects (2.0 ± 0.2 pg/mL). Elevated (> 5 pg/mL) plasma IL‐8 levels were found in up to 30% of cirrhotic patients. In cirrhotic patients, plasma IL‐8 levels progressively increased in relation to the severity of liver dysfunction (4.5 ± 1.0, 4.9 ± 1.4 and 20.5 ± 8.3 pg/mL for Pugh's class A, B and C, respectively; P <0.005). A significant correlation was observed between plasma IL‐8 levels and serum bilirubin levels (r = 0.72; P <0.001). There were no differences in the hepatic venous pressure gradient (15.4 ± 1.1 vs 15.1 ± 0.9 mmHg; P >0.05) and systemic vascular resistance (1119 ± 118 vs 1199 ± 54 dyn.s/cm 5 ; P >0.05) between cirrhotic patients with and without elevated plasma IL‐8 levels. In addition, plasma IL‐8 levels did not correlate with hepatic venous pressure gradient (r = 0.26; P >0.05) and systemic vascular resistance (r=‐0.24; P >0.05). These results demonstrate that plasma IL‐8 levels are increased in patients with post‐hepatitic cirrhosis. The severity of liver cirrhosis is an important factor for the occurrence of enhanced IL‐8 levels. IL‐8 does not play a role in the hyperdynamic circulation observed in patients with post‐hepatitic cirrhosis.