Serum IL-6 and IL-8 in infants with biliary atresia in comparison to intrahepatic cholestasis.

Background: Biliary atresia (BA) is an idiopathic progressive inflammation and fibrosclerosis of the extra and intrahepatic bile ducts.

Aim: To measure the serum levels of IL-6 and IL-8 in biliary atresia and correlate with clinical outcome.

Methods: Sixty children were included, 20 with BA (group 1), 20 with intrahepatic cholestasis (group 2) and 20 normal children as controls.