Changes in serum cytokines during blood autotransfusion of patients with abdominal injuries

We examined changes in blood cytokine levels after wash collection-type salvaging autologous blood transfusion (SAT). This study included 15 patients with intraperitoneal hemorrhage. These patients were divided into 2 groups; group A (7 patients), SAT and group B (8 patients) was not performed as control. Peripheral blood was collected before and after surgery to measure IL-6, IL-8, TNF-alpha, and IL-1ra levels. In group A, IL-6 levels in 1(st) post-operative day were significantly higher than those levels before operation (p<0.05). And IL-8 levels before operation and on 1(st) post-operative day, group A showed a significantly higher value than group B (p<0.05). These findings suggest that SAT may cause activation of IL-8. There was no significant complication relation to SAT. Concerning the etiology, hemorrhage or erythrolysis related to a collection and wash system may be involved in the activation of IL-8.