Serum levels of cytokines after bone marrow transplantation: increased IL-8 levels during severe veno-occlusive disease of the liver

We investigated the cytokine profile and peak levels of interleukin (IL) -6, IL-8, IL-10 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF) -alpha levels in 42 patients after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Eleven of them developed veno-occlusive disease (VOD) of the liver. Fourteen patients had moderate-to-severe acute graft-versus-host disease (aGvHD), 10 isolated bacteraemia and 7 had no major complication. Those who developed severe VOD (n=6) showed a short, very high IL-8 peak (median: 6632 pg/ml, range: 5546-10,000 vs. 280 pg/ml, 0-2042 in controls, p