Sequential changes in the cell mediators of peritoneal and wound fluids after surgery.

The concentrations of cell mediators in the peritoneal and wound fluids of patients who underwent abdominal surgery or mastectomy were determined sequentially and compared with the concomitant changes in blood components. The level of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the peritoneal and wound fluids was significantly higher than the plasma level after gastrectomy (P < 0.001), cholecystectomy (P < 0.05), and mastectomy (P < 0.05), although the level of plasma IL-6 was also higher postoperatively than before surgery (P < 0.001, P < 0.05). Significantly higher levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha were detected in the peritoneal and wound fluids (P < 0.01, P < 0.05, respectively) after surgery despite its absence in plasma. A platelet-specific protein and a protein specific for fibroblasts were also measured. Thus, mediators derived from various cells were shown to be present in human peritoneal and wound fluids, indicating that the local production of these mediators plays an important role in the process of tissue repair.