Surgery induces release of neuroendocrine hormones, cytokines and acute phase proteins. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of spinal and general anaesthesia on serum concentration of pro-inflammatory (interleukin-1α (IL-1α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), MCP-1 (Monocyte chemoattractant protein–1), VEGF (Vascular endothelial growth factor), EGF (Epidermal growth factor), antiinflammatory cytokines (interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and cytokines which are secreted by Th1 helper lymphocytes (interleukin-2 (IL-2), interferon-γ (IFN-γ). 40 patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists status I and II who were scheduled for Transurethral Resection of the Prostatae were anesthetized in spinal or general anesthesia. Peripheral venous blood samples were collected 2 hours before surgery on the first, third and fifth postoperative days. We measured pro-inflammatory cytokines, anti-inflammatory cytokines and cytokines which are secreted by Th1 helper lymphocytes in order to establish differences in patients before and after surgery. Statistically significant differences were found in serum levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2) between general and spinal anesthesia (p=0.043). The concentration of IL-2 was continously elevated in general anesthesia, but not in spinal anesthesia. There was also statistically significant increase of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in spinal (p=0.043) and general anesthesia (p=0.03) in comparison to preoperative value. Surgery-related postoperative release of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 was increased in patients after spinal and general anesthesia. In our study, increased levels of IL-2 were found in patients anesthetized by general anesthesia compared to spinal anesthesia. Serum concentrations of other pro-inflammatory cytokines, anti-inflammatory cytokines and cytokines which are secreted by Th1 helper lymphocytes showed no statistical difference before and after surgery under general and spinal anesthesia.