title: Plasma interleukin-18 levels in hemodialysis patients: increased by dialysis process and association with interleukin-6 and tumor necrotic factor-alpha.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chih-Kang
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: Jen-Wen
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Shih-Ping
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Tai-I
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Mei-Fen
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Pai
authors.forename: Yu-Sen
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Shing-Hwa
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Kuan-Yu
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: Tun-Jun
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Tsai
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D020382:Interleukin-18; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha