Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease, characterized by dysregulated local immune defense with constant influx of leucocytes , providing a basis for continuous intestinal inflammation. The present study was conducted to evaluate the serum and intestinal concentrations of interleukin-8 (IL-8) and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and their correlation with the disease activity. Twenty eight patients with ulcerative colitis (16 with active and 12 with inactive disease) and 12 subjects as a control group were included in the study .The patients and control group were subjected to the following investigations: colonoscopy and obtaining biopsy specimens , histopathological examination of biopsy specimen for assessment of disease activity score, assay of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), assay of IL-8 and sICAM-1 levels in sera and colonic biopsy specimens. The results showed that the serum and tissue IL-8 concentrations were significantly increased in patients with active UC as compared to control group (p<0.001) and to inactive cases(p<0.001), but there were non significant difference between inactive and control groups (p>0.05). The results of sICAM-1 in sera and colonic mucosa showed significant increase in patients with active UC as compared to the control group (p<0.001) and as compared to inactive cases (p<0.001).There was non significant difference in sICAM level (in sera and tissue) between inactive patients and control group (p>0.05). Both IL-8 and sICAM-1 whether in sera or in tissue showed significant positive correlations with disease activity score and the inflammatory markers , (ESR and CRP) in patients with active UC. IL-8 in sera and tissue also showed significant positive correlation with sICAM-1 in patients with active UC. In conclusion, both IL-8 and sICAM-1 showed significant increase in patients with active ulcerative colitis as compared to control group and inactive cases , denoting that they might play a role in the inflammatory response and tissue destruction and that the assay of their serum levels could be simple, non-invasive tests for monitoring the disease activity in patients with ulcerative colitis.