[Urinary interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 in females with urethral syndrome]

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) are important mediators of an inflammatory response. We measured creatinine-collected urinary levels of IL-6 and IL-8 by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 21 women with urethritis syndrome as well as 20 age-matched healthy women. Urine samples were collected before treatment and after 7 or 14 days of oral administration of sparfloxacin (100 mg once daily). Urinary IL-6 level was elevated in a patient with urethritis syndrome (41.1 pg/mgCr), while urinary IL-8 levels were elevated in 8 (range 13.3 to 560 pg/mgCr). On the other hand, none of the healthy controls showed any detectable urinary level of IL-6 and IL-8. Of the 9 patients with elevated urinary IL-6 or IL-8, symptomatic improvement was obtained after chemotherapy in 8 and urinary interleukins became undetectable in 7. Urinary IL-6 and IL-8 seem to have some role in the induction of urinary symptoms.