A study of interleukin-18 serum level in children with chronic liver diseases

Abstract EN

Background : Interleukin 18 (IL18) is a new member of cytokine family.

In experimental studies it seems to play a key role in the development of liver injury.

Aim: In this study we investigated whether IL18 level is altered in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD).

Methods : We measured IL18 Plasma level in 40 patients with CLD of various etiologies and 20 healthy controls of matched age and sex by specific ELISA test.

Results : Plasma level of IL18 was significantly higher in CLD patients than in healthy controls except in cases of glycogen storage disease which represent the metabolic group in our diseased patients.

Cirrhotics had higher levels than non cirrhotics.

IL18 level increased with disease progression where Child-C cirrhotics had had the highest level.

IL18 level was elevated indpendant of the etiology of CLD and positively correlated with total serum bilirubin level, ALP and AST.

Conclusion : The elevated serum level of IL-18 in children with chronic liver diseases may reflect its potential role in the pathogenesis of these diseases irrespective to the etiology.