Clinical investigation of serum TNFα and IL8 levels in patients with ulcerative colitis

IM To study the action and significance of serum tumor necrosis factorα (TNFα) and interleukin8 (IL8) in patients with ulcerative colitis. METHODS Serum TNFα (2622ng/L±20ng/L vs 1462ng/L±25ng/L, P005) and IL8 (1118ng/L±26ng/L vs 575ng/L±40ng/L, P005) in 33 patients with active ulcerative colitis and in 40 normal subjects were detected using a Sandwich ELISA. RESULTS Serum TNFα and IL8 levels in patients with ulcerative colitis were elevated significantly and related to the severity of the disease and area of lesions (P005).CONCLUSION Immune dysfunction exists in patients with ulcerative colitis. The increased serum TNFα and IL8 are related to the development of ulcerative colitis and may serve as an indicator of ulcerative colitis.