[Serum concentration of interleukin-12 (IL-12) in patients undergoing abdominal aortic aneurysm repair--preliminary report].

Abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery (AAA) is associated with perturbations of immune response and decreased immunity to infection, followed by high risk of organ and systemic complications development, including sepsis. The postoperative mortality in patients with AAA comes up to 10-12% and determines us to look for factors that may influence the immune response and are important for uneventful postoperative course. IL-12 is a potent immunoregulatory cytokine, that regulates cellular and humoral immunity. The aim of this study was to determine the IL-12 serum level in patients with AAA and its relation to ischaemia and reperfusion during aortic surgery. The study comprised 17 patients undergoing AAA repair and 10 patients of control group. Peripheral blood samples were taken before surgery (T0), before unclamping of aorta (T1), 90 minutes after unclamping (T2) and 24 h after surgery (T3). The IL-12 serum concentrations were measured with high sensitivity ELISA technique. IL-12 serum concentration was significantly higher in patients with AAA than in control group. During surgery a slight elevation after ischaemia (T1) and great depletion after reperfusion (T2) were observed. We found a significant correlation between IL-12 level at T2 and the length of surgery. The serum level of IL-12 is higher in AAA patients than in healthy men. Ischaemia and reperfusion during AAA repair results in an increase followed by decrease of cytokine serum level. There was not relationship between IL-12 level and its changes and postoperative course of AAA patients.