Interleukin-6/interleukin-10 ratio and immune dysregulation after radiofrequency ablation

The immune response following radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is characterized by a dynamic interaction between proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory factors. An elevated ratio of interleukin (IL)-6 to IL-10 may serve as a key indicator of post-RFA immune dysregulation.

To evaluate the prognostic relevance of the IL-6/IL-10 ratio as a surrogate indicator of immune dysregulation in patients with malignant liver tumors treated by RFA.

We enrolled 91 patients undergoing RFA for hepatic malignancies were prospectively enrolled. Serum levels of IL-6 and IL-10 were measured both prior to the procedure and within 7 days post-RFA. Statistical analyses were conducted to assess the association between the IL-6/IL-10 ratio and clinical outcomes.

The study population consisted predominantly of males (74.73%), with a mean age of 60.88 ± 9.03 years. Most participants presented with ≤ 2 hepatic lesions (91.21%) and well-preserved hepatic function, as indicated by Child-Pugh class A status (98.9%). The mean lesion diameter was 26.27 ± 13.8 mm, and 78.02% had a documented history of hepatitis B virus infection. Post-procedural cytokine profiling revealed a marked and rapid surge in IL-6 concentrations peaking within 24 hours after RFA, whereas IL-10 exhibited only a modest elevation. Consequently, the IL-6/IL-10 ratio remained persistently elevated throughout the 7-day monitoring period (all P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified the IL-6/IL-10 ratio as an independent prognostic indicator for adverse post-ablation outcomes (odds ratio = 1.11 per unit increment, 95%CI: 1.033-1.204, P = 0.006), with higher ratios signifying increased inflammatory burden. In contrast, elevated serum albumin levels conferred a protective effect (odds ratio = 0.81, 95%CI: 0.668-0.961, P = 0.021).

The IL-6/IL-10 ratio may constitute a clinically relevant biomarker indicative of immune dysregulation after RFA, with potential implications for understanding inflammation-driven outcomes and tailoring post-RFA management.