title: Serum levels of interleukin-18 (IL-18), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), its soluble receptor sIL-1RII and C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with Lyme arthritis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In recent years, the role of pro- and antiinflammatory cytokines in the development of Lyme arthritis (LA) has been widely discussed. The purpose of the present study was to determine the concentration of interleukin-18 (IL-18), interleukin-1beta (IL-beta) and its soluble receptor sIL-1RII in serum of patients with LA as well as the usefulness of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) determination in LA diagnosis and monitoring of its treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group consisted of 20 patients with LA. Before and after antibiotic treatment, the serum levels of IL-18, IL-1beta and sIL-1RII were measured immunoenzymatically using standard kits and the CRP level was measured by immunoturbidimetric method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before treatment, the serum levels of IL-18, IL-1beta and sIL-1RII were significantly higher than in control group and after treatment the concentrations of IL-18, IL-1beta and sIL-1RII decreased significantly, but the level of IL-18 and sIL-1RII still remained higher than in control group. The elevated serum level of CRP was detected only in 6 of 20 patients and in 5 of them it returned to the baseline after treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of our study suggest that IL-18, IL-1beta and sIL-1RII might be involved in the development of LA. CRP may be useful in differential diagnosis in patients with suspicion of Lyme arthritis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Regional Hospital, 15-003 Białystok, Poland. adapietr@yahoo.uk
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pietruczuk
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Swierzbińska
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pancewicz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pietruczuk
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hermanowska-Szpakowicz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000097:blood*; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood*; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D007375:Interleukin-1; D020382:Interleukin-18; D002097:C-Reactive Protein