Higher plasma interleukin-18 levels associated with poor quality of sleep in peritoneal dialysis patients.
BACKGROUND
Sleep disorders are prevalent in patients with end-stage renal disease. Increasing evidence suggests that cytokines are involved in the regulation of sleep and wakefulness. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between quality of sleep and plasma interleukin-18 levels in peritoneal dialysis patients.


METHODS
Plasma interleukin-18 levels were determined by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methodology in 57 peritoneal dialysis patients. Quality of sleep was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Demographic and routine laboratory data were recorded.


RESULTS
In our cohort, the poor sleepers had higher plasma interleukin-18 levels (559.16 +/- 261.22 pg/ml vs 397.49 +/- 191.81 pg/ml, P = 0.01). The plasma interleukin-18 level was positively correlated with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score (r = 0.286, P = 0.031), that is, there was a positive association between higher plasma interleukin-18 levels and poorer quality of sleep.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates that interleukin-18 may be involved in sleep disorders in end-stage renal disease patients. Higher plasma interleukin-18 levels are associated with poorer quality of sleep in peritoneal dialysis patients. Whether a cause-and-effect relationship exists between interleukin-18 and quality of sleep deserves further study.
Yang
Ju-Yeh
JY
Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital Yun-Lin Branch, Yun-Lin, Taiwan.
Huang
Jenq-Wen
JW
Chiang
Chih-Kang
CK
Pan
Chun-Chun
CC
Wu
Kwan-Dun
KD
Tsai
Tun-Jun
TJ
Chen
Wan-Yu
WY
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010530:Peritoneal Dialysis; D011788:Quality of Life; D012890:Sleep
D020382:Interleukin-18