Figure 1.

Panel A and B. Note the high IL-6 and TNF serum concentrations before surgery (T0 and T48) and the rapid decrease during peritoneal lavage and continuous venovenous diahemofiltration (CVVDH). APACHE II scores improved significantly from T48 to the end of CVVDH (p = 0.013 by matched-paired Student's t-test) whereas IL-6 and TNF concentrations decreased over the same time course though not significantly. Panel C and D. The decrease in IL-6 and TNF concentration in peritoneal lavage fluid became significant (P = 0.019 and P = 0.008) between the two time-points T48 and when CVVDH ended and was significantly associated with the decrease in APACHE II scores over the same time course (P = 0.013). Panel E. Note the high IL-6 and TNF concentrations in the hemofiltrate, suggesting that continuous venovenous diahemofiltration (CVVDH) effectively purified these patients' sera.