Role of interleukin 1β, interleukin 6, and tumor necrosis factor in postoperative fever development.
Background. The aim of this study was to analyse the postoperative changes in plasma levels of some cytokines (interleukin 1β, interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor) in order to evaluate their role in acute phase response as well as the possible correlations between their plasmatic levels and postoperative fever development. Methods. Twenty-nine patients (mean age: 55.9 ± 14.4 years), 11 males and 18 females, who underwent cholecystectomy for lithiasis were considered. Mean duration of surgical procedure was 46 ± 12.1 minutes and mean duration of hospital stay was 5.2 ± 1.1 days. Results. The results did not demostrate significant variations in IL-1β and TNF-α plasmatic levels, while IL-6 levels resulted directly correlated to body temperature trend, with statistical significant variations as compared with preoperative levels (10.7 fmol/ml vs 8.9 fmol/ml; p < 0.01). Differences between IL-6 plasmatic levels in patients with or without postoperative fever appeared significant as well (11.25 fmol/ml vs 9.16 fmol/ml; p < 0.01). Conclusions. In conclusion, IL-6 seems to be the main mediator of acute phase response and it may be considered, as endogenous pyrogen, responsible for benign postoperative fever development.
