[Cytokines in the diagnosis of peritoneal inflammation]

Early diagnosis of peritoneal inflammation in the initial stage with equivocal clinical manifestations is not always simple. At present there are in the literature many new laboratory indicators which to a different extent describe the inflammatory process. In the present paper the authors focused attention on the practical importance of the use of cytokines in the diagnosis of peritoneal inflammations. They compare the diagnostic impact of clinical examination as compared with assessed plasma concentrations of inflammation promoting cytokines. The authors maintain that the diagnosis of secondary peritonitis is based on the clinical examination of the patient. Elevated values of PCT or IL-6 can support this clinical conclusion. In postoperative peritonitis dynamic investigation of cytokines is important. The diagnosis of tertiary peritonitis is based on laboratory findings.