The underlying pathophysiology of Eating Disorders (EDs) is dependent on complex interactions between psychological and neuroendocrine factors. Pro-inflammatory cytokines are known to decrease food intake and increase risk of depression. Psychological stress and psychiatric illness are factors known to reduce immune function and thus increase level of cytokines.

The purpose of the present study was to examine a possible raise in cytokines as measured by IL-6 and TNF-α in ED patients, further the aim was to analyze relations between cytokines and personality traits.

Female patients with eating disorders (N=28) recruited consecutively from an inpatient clinic, were compared to age-matched healthy females (N=12). Quantikine® HS, Human TNF-a/TNFSF1 was used to detect levels of TNF-α in patient and control sera whereas Quantikine® Human IL-6 immunoassay was used to estimate IL-6. Personality traits were measured by using the Karolinska Scales of Personality (KSP).

A one-tailed t-test showed that the patient group had tendencies to increased levels of cytokines TNF-α (t=-1.61,df=38, p=0.057), while their mean IL-6 level was not higher than controls (t=-1.19,df=38, p=0.12). The correlation between TNF-α and IL-6 were non-significant (r=-0.04). Patients with high levels (1 SD above norm mean) of Monotony Avoidance (t=2.34,df=22, p<0.02), Verbal Aggression (t=3.13,df=22, p<0.01) and Irritability (t=2.50,df=22, p<0.02) displayed significantly higher levels of IL-6 than the other ED patients.

Results indicated a tendency of increased levels of cytokines in patients with EDs. Personality traits reflecting impulsivity and aggression were found to be related to high levels of cytokines in the present study.