title: Higher plasma interleukin-18 levels associated with poor quality of sleep in peritoneal dialysis patients.
abstract: 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.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital Yun-Lin Branch, Yun-Lin, Taiwan.
authors: Ju-Yeh
authors: JY
authors: Yang
authors: Jenq-Wen
authors: JW
authors: Huang
authors: Chih-Kang
authors: CK
authors: Chiang
authors: Chun-Chun
authors: CC
authors: Pan
authors: Kwan-Dun
authors: KD
authors: Wu
authors: Tun-Jun
authors: TJ
authors: Tsai
authors: Wan-Yu
authors: WY
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D020382:Interleukin-18