Plasma interleukin-18 levels in hemodialysis patients: increased by dialysis process and association with interleukin-6 and tumor necrotic factor-alpha.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated changes of interleukin-18 (IL-18) levels before and after dialysis, and the possible association with other pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha).


METHODS
Plasma IL-18 of healthy controls, and pre- and post-dialysis of uremic patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) were evaluated by ELISA methodology.


RESULTS
Plasma IL-18 levels were significantly increased in patients with maintenance HD (p <0.001) compared to its level in normal subjects. When compared to pre-dialysis levels, a significant increase in plasma IL-18 was measured at the end of HD (p = 0.032). There was a significant correlation among plasma IL-18, IL-6 and TNF-alpha levels in HD patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Plasma IL-18 concentration was significantly higher in HD patients and was significantly elevated by cellulose-based HD processes. Pre-activation of immunologically active cells may contribute to the association between pre-dialysis IL-18 and post-dialysis IL-6 and TNF-alpha levels.
Chiang
Chih-Kang
CK
Department of Internal Medicine, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Huang
Jen-Wen
JW
Hsu
Shih-Ping
SP
Ho
Tai-I
TI
Pai
Mei-Fen
MF
Peng
Yu-Sen
YS
Liu
Shing-Hwa
SH
Hung
Kuan-Yu
KY
Tsai
Tun-Jun
TJ
D000368:Aged; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000379:methods*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis*; D014511:Uremia / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy
D020382:Interleukin-18; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha