BACKGROUND: Elevations of plasma inflammatory cytokines are related to the surgical intervention. We have examined the circulating interleukin 6, 8 (IL-6, IL-8) and CRP responses in patients older than 80 years during orthopedic hip arthroplasty. METHODS: After taking the signed informed consent, 8 patients were enrolled in this study. All patients received standard spinal anesthesia combined with epidural catheterization. Samples were collected just before and after the surgery, and on 1st, 2nd and 7th day after the operation. RESULTS: Plasma IL-6 levels showed a significant increase on the day after surgery (5.6 +/- 3.7 vs. 52.2 +/- 24.1 pg.ml-1, mean +/- SD, P < 0.05), whereas although the levels of IL-8, increased (minimum 7.9 +/- 3.2 to maximum 70.3 +/- 80.2 pg.ml-1, mean +/- SD), the change was not significant. CRP levels were slightly elevated in the preoperative examination (2.8 +/- 3.5 mg.dl-1) and further increased on the 2nd day of surgery (8.3 +/- 5.4 mg.dl-1), but returned to a normal level on the 7th day. CONCLUSIONS: From the viewpoint of cytokines, this study showed that, although IL-8 level did not return to the preoperative value, the surgical stress of orthopedic hip arthroplasty in patients older than 80 years was almost of the same level as reported previously.
BACKGROUND: Elevations of plasma inflammatory cytokines are related to the surgical intervention. We have examined the circulating interleukin 6, 8 (IL-6, IL-8) and CRP responses in patients older than 80 years during orthopedic hip arthroplasty. METHODS: After taking the signed informed consent, 8 patients were enrolled in this study. All patients received standard spinal anesthesia combined with epidural catheterization. Samples were collected just before and after the surgery, and on 1st, 2nd and 7th day after the operation. RESULTS: Plasma IL-6 levels showed a significant increase on the day after surgery (5.6 +/- 3.7 vs. 52.2 +/- 24.1 pg.ml-1, mean +/- SD, P < 0.05), whereas although the levels of IL-8, increased (minimum 7.9 +/- 3.2 to maximum 70.3 +/- 80.2 pg.ml-1, mean +/- SD), the change was not significant. CRP levels were slightly elevated in the preoperative examination (2.8 +/- 3.5 mg.dl-1) and further increased on the 2nd day of surgery (8.3 +/- 5.4 mg.dl-1), but returned to a normal level on the 7th day. CONCLUSIONS: From the viewpoint of cytokines, this study showed that, although IL-8 level did not return to the preoperative value, the surgical stress of orthopedic hip arthroplasty in patients older than 80 years was almost of the same level as reported previously.