The levels of cytokines in patients with severe hepatitis-B were higher (TNF-alpha 359.0+/-17.2 ng/L, IFN-gamma 234.7+/-16.5 ng/L, IL-6 347.5+/-31.3 ng/L, IL-8 181.1+/-19.6 ng/L) than those in acute hepatitis-B (TNF-alpha 220.6+/-8.9 ng/L, IFN-gamma 174.9+/-12.0 ng/L, IL-6 285.8+/-16.5 ng/L, IL-8 118.4+/-5.1 ng/L, P<0.01 or 0.05).