In our study we investigated the hypothesis that intra- and postoperative volume replacement with HES attenuates inflammatory response to elective abdominal surgery compared to RL fluid therapy. For this purpose both metalloproteinases, MMP-9, MMP-13, their inhibitor, TIMP-1, cytokines, IL-6, IL-8 and the intercellular adhesion molecule-1, ICAM-1 were investigated postoperatively. Their changes during the first 24 postoperative hours consisted our primary outcomes.