Systemic liberation of interleukin‐8 in the perioperative phase of liver transplantation

Serum levels of interleukin‐8 (IL‐8) were investigated in the perioperative phase of liver transplantation (LTx) in order to help determine whether this cytokine might serve as a parameter for preservation injury. In a study of 45 patients undergoing LTx, systemic IL‐8 was estimated at the end of the anhepatic phase, at 30, 60, and 120 min after reperfusion of the graft, and 24 h and 7 days after LTx. A maximum mean concentration of 665 ±135 pg/ml was seen 60 min after LTx. The minimum was found on the 1st postoperative day (POD 1): 328 + 33 pg/ml. Significant changes were found between 60 min and PODs 1 and 7, as well as between 120 min and POD 1. Differences in cold ischemia time were not found to be significant. We conclude that monitoring of systemic IL‐8 levels is not useful in the development of new liver preservation concepts.