Abstract
BACKGROUND: The molecule known as Interleukin-8 (IL-8), a chemotactic leukocyte, has been found to have a crucial role in the perpetuation of the inflammatory environment that is associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, as well as in the development of liver cirrhosis and cancer. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to carefully examine the role of IL-8 in the inflammatory reaction and to compare the levels based on the severity of liver cirrhosis. METHODS: The study was conducted from February 2018 to September 2018 at the Gastroenterohepatology Division, Internal medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara. The study was designed as an analytic comparative, cross-sectional study. The liver cirrhosis patients who participated in this study met the inclusion criteria and provided informed consent. RESULTS: A total of 70 patients were included in the study, from which we identified 1 individual with child-pugh A, 28 individuals with child-pugh B, and 41 individuals with child-pugh C. The serum level of IL-8 was found to be 98 (11-320) (pg/ml). The IL-8 levels between child-pugh B and C patients did not exhibit any noteworthy differences during our analysis (p = 0.109, p>0.05). CONCLUSION: There is no notable inequality in the levels of IL-8 across different stages of liver cirrhosis.