Figure 3

Hernioplasty-caused increase of TNF-α and IL-1β values. A significant increase in TNF-α post-operative values in comparison with the baseline ones, was observed only in young subjects at 48 h after the operation (p < 0.05 by ANOVA). In elderly TNF-α values were not significantly higher when compared with baseline values. They were significantly higher in older patients than in younger at 6 h and 24 h after the operation (p = 0.003 and p= 0.047, respectively by t Student's test). A significant increase of IL-1β post-operative values respect to baseline values was observed only in old patients at 6 h (p < 0.01 by ANOVA) and IL-1β values were significantly higher in older patients than in younger at 6 h after the operation (p = 0.002 by t Student's test).