Serum Interleukin 8 Levels Correlate With Synovial Fluid Levels in Patients With Aseptic Loosening of Hip Prosthesis

Levels of inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin [IL] 6, and IL-8) in serum from patients with osteolysis on radiographs after hip arthroplasty [osteolysis(+), n = 28], patients without osteolysis after hip arthroplasty [osteolysis(−), n = 24], and nonoperated healthy subjects [controls, n = 20] were determined. In addition, cytokine levels in synovial fluid from patients undergoing revision total hip arthroplasty (n = 14) for loosening were measured and compared with each other and with the area of osteolysis on radiographs. Serum IL-6 and IL-8 levels were significantly higher in the osteolysis(+) group than in the osteolysis(−) or the control groups. Furthermore, a significant correlation was found between the serum and synovial fluid IL-8 levels and between synovial fluid IL-8 levels and the area of osteolysis in patients undergoing revision total hip arthroplasty. Therefore, serum IL-8 levels could be a useful periprosthetic osteolysis marker.