Assay of serum interleukin 8 levels in patients with alcoholic hepatitis.

Studies were performed to evaluate the role of interleukin 8 (IL-8) in the pathogenesis of alcoholic hepatitis. Using a recently developed sensitive and specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, we measured serum IL-8 levels in patients with alcoholic hepatitis. The mean serum IL-8 level was increased significantly in patients with alcoholic hepatitis compared with normal controls (P < 0.05). It was of interest to note that serum IL-8 levels were increased transiently after abstinence from alcohol in patients with alcoholic hepatitis. These findings suggest that there may be a correlation between IL-8 and alcoholic hepatitis.