Increased serum adenosine and interleukin 10 levels as new laboratory markers of increased intra-abdominal pressure

Background Increased intra-abdominal pressure (IAP), intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) and abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) are severe complications of surgical interventions with a high rate of mortality. The technique of IAP measurement is accurate, precise, reproducible and cost-effective. However, laboratory measures for monitoring of IAH have not been defined. We investigated the linkage between the serum levels of adenosine and interleukin 10 (IL-10) with IAP. Methods The sera of 25 surgical patients with IAP <12 mmHg and of 45 surgical patients with IAP >12 mmHg were tested. Serum adenosine concentration was measured by HPLC. Serum IL-1 beta, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, TNF alpha, IFN gamma and IL-10 were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). CRP was measured by nephelometry. Results Significant correlations of IAP were found only with serum levels of adenosine and IL-10. In the sera of patients with IAP >12 mmHg, the levels of both adenosine (1.61 versus 0.06 mu M, p < 0.01) and IL-10 (63.23 versus 27.27 pg/ml, p < 0.01) were significantly higher than those in patients with IAP <12 mmHg. Moreover, significant correlations were found between individual patient IAP-adenosine values (r = 0.766, p < 0.001), IAP-IL-10 values (r = 0.792, p < 0.001) and adenosine-IL-10 values (r = 0.888, p < 0.001). A direct linear correlation between IAP-adenosine and IAP-10 values was only observed with IAP >15 (Grade II-IV). Conclusion We report associations between IAP and the serum adenosine and IL-10 levels providing new tools for the laboratory monitoring of IAH as well as further understanding of the pathomechanisms contributing to ACS.