High levels of serum interleukin-10 and tumor necrosis factor-α are associated with fatality in fulminant hepatitis

Serum pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators in patients with acute liver diseases were assessed to clarify the clinical significance of these measurements in relation to disease severity. Concentrations of circulating tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, and soluble TNF receptors (sTNFR) p55 and p75 were measured at admission in patients with fulminant hepatitis (FH; n = 19), severe acute hepatitis (AHS, n = 15), or acute hepatitis (AH, n = 7). Serum concentrations of TNF-alpha, IL-10, and sTNFR-55 were significantly higher in patients with FH than in those with AHS (P < .05, < .05, and < .01, respectively) or AH (P < .05). Serum IL-10 and TNF-alpha levels were higher in patients who died of FH (n = 13) than in FH survivors (n = 6; P < .05), The ratios between TNF-alpha and IL-10 and sTNFR-55 or sTNFR-75 were not valuable in predicting mortality and disease severity. However, both proinflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha and anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 levels at admission were associated with fatal outcome among patients with FH.