The role of inflammatory cytokines interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha for detection of acute surgical abdomen in emergency room

Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine whether interleukin 6 (IL6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) may be markers for acute surgical abdomen. Patients and Methods: Patients over 18 years old were enrolled in the study. After a description of the study was given to the patients and their families, written informed consent was obtained. During routine laboratory experiments and treatment, blood was collected for studying IL-6 and TNF alpha levels. In the control group, healthy adults’ sera were studied. Results: A total of 80 patients were enrolled in the study. The mean age of the males was 43±8 years and the mean age of the females was 51±7 years. 41 patients were enrolled in the non-surgical group and the most common complaint was urinary tract infection. 39 patients had surgery. In this group, the most common pathology was cholesistolithiasis. The TNF alpha levels were higher in the abdominal pain patients when compared with the TNF alpha levels of the healthy control group, but there was no statistically significant difference between surgical and non-surgical abdominal pain groups (p>0.05). The IL-6 levels were also higher in the abdominal pain patients when compared with the levels of the control group, and there was a statistically significant difference between abdominal pain groups. IL-6 levels were higher in the surgical abdomen group. Conclusion: IL-6 may be a marker for surgical abdomen.