title: [The serum level transformation of interleukin 18 before and after SIT in patients with allergic rhinitis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To survey the role of IL-18 in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis, and to discuss the mechanism of specific immunotherapy (SIT).
  
  
  METHODS
  The serum levels of IL-18 in patients with allergic rhinitis and the health control were detected by ELISA before and after SIT (for l year).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The levels of IL-18 in patients before SIT were (88.33 +/- 35. 95)ng/L, significantly lower than that in healthy control(149 +/- 47.37)ng/L, and the level after SIT (199.22 +/- 58.82 )ng/L was significantly higher than that before SIT. There was no significant difference between the healthy after-SIT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IL-18 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of allergic inflammation and the SIT therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
authors.forename: Wenjing
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Guanghui
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Rongfei
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D020382:Interleukin-18