Determination of interleukin-6, interleukin-10 and interleukin-18 levels in patient with chronic hepatitis B

ABSTRACT DETERMINATION OF INTERLEUKIN-6, INTERLEUKIN-10 AND INTERLEUKIN-18 LEVELS IN PATIENT WITH CHRONIC HEPATITIS B The mechanisms of chronicity in viral hepatitis B have not been fully understood yet. It has been stated that the changes in balance of cytokine profile may result in either healing or chronicity. This study was conducted to reveal the relationship between different clinical forms of HBV infection with cytokines. This study aims to reveal the relationship between IL-6, IL-10, IL-18 levels and disease progression in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), liver cirrhosis (LC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) secondary to HBV infection. Totally, sixty seven HBV patients with CHB (n:29), LC (n:19), HCC (n:19) and fifteen healthy controls included in the study. Hepatitis B virus DNA levels were not significantly different between the groups. IL-6, IL-10 and IL-18 levels in patients with HBV infection significantly higher than the control group in association disease progression. Level of IL-6 in HCC group was significantly higher than the control, CHB and LC groups. IL-6 levels were similar among the other groups. At the level of IL-10 there was significant difference only between control and HCC groups. IL-18 levels were similar among the groups of HBV (CHB, LC, HCC) and in all three groups were significantly higher than in the control group. There was statistically significant correlation between IL and AFP levels. In addition, IL-18 levels in two of three patients with AFP levels within normal range in the HCC group were found to be on mean values. In one of them the level of IL-10 was found to be on mean values. In conclusion, levels of IL-6, 10 and 18 was found to be increased at different stages of HBV infection. IL-6 and 10 levels increased in the HCC group. IL-18 were increased in all forms of HBV. Keywords: hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, cytokine