CHANGES iN SERUM. l,E.VE.L Of iNTERLEUKiN-6 iN ACUTE HEPATITiS iN CHiLDREN

Abstract

Hepatitis is a worldwide. The viruses of and other viruses (C, D, identified.

major health problem hepatitis A, hepatitis B E, F, and G) have been

This work has been done to study the changes of serum IL-6 level in acute viral hepatitis among Egyptian children. Forty five children were involved in this study, thirty five patients and ten controls. Thirteen had hepatitis A, 12 had hepatitis B and 10 had hepatitis C. Serum IL-6 levels were measured using an ELISA technqiue..

This study showed that the serum level of IL- 6 in acute viral hepatitis was significantly higher than in the control group. This probably results from hepatic dysfunction, as the liver is the major clearance site for cytokines under normal circumstances. The highest levels of IL-6 were detected in patients with HCV infection. No correlation was detected between biochemical parameters and serum level of IL-6 in acute viral hepatitis. These parameters included parameters of liver injury (AST, ALT, bilirubin), parameters of hepatic synthetic function. (serum albumin, prothrombin time), alkaline phosphatase enzyme, and partial thromboplastin time.