[Can TNF-alpha and IL-6 be helpful in assessment of chronic hepatitis in children?].

: The purpose of the work was an assessment of TNF-alpha and Il-6 concentrations in 34 children with diagnosed chronic hepatitis. In all studied patients the values of TNF-alpha and Il-6 concentration were slightly increased. The correlations calculated between TNF-alpha and Il-6 concentrations calculated between TNF-alpha and Il-6 concentrations and laboratory parameters (laboratory indicators of hepatitis activity--AlAT; liver function indicators--prothrombin index, bilirubin concentration, bile acid concentration, alkaline phosphatase activity, anti-pyrin half-life) were non-significant in Spearman non-parametric test (p > 0.005) except for the correlation between albumin and TNF-alpha concentrations. No statistically significant differences of TNF-alpha and Il-6 concentrations were found between groups of patients with active and persistent hepatitis; groups with and without cirrhosis as well as between groups with and without portal hypertension. Normal or slightly increased TNF-alpha and Il-6 concentrations, observed in chronic hepatitis in children should be explained by compensated liver function in such patients.