title: Clinical implications of interleukin-18 levels in pediatric patients with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia.
abstract: The immunological pathogenesis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia is known to involve several cytokines. The serum levels of interleukin-18 (IL-18) were examined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 23 pediatric patients (median age 6 years; range 4-13 years; 14 girls and 9 boys) with M. pneumoniae pneumonia admitted to our hospital. Serum levels of IL-18 ranged from 22 to 1808 pg/ml with a mean of 543 pg/ml. We started steroid therapy in two cases with IL-18 values greater than 1000 pg/ml without being aware of IL-18 levels. Examination of associations between IL-18 levels determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and a routine laboratory test showed that levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and IL-18 were significantly correlated. To determine the appropriateness of steroid administration in M. pneumoniae pneumonia patients, serum LDH should be examined. Patients with elevated levels of LDH are likely to have significantly elevated IL-18 values (≥1000 pg/ml) and thus can be candidates for steroid therapy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatrics, Department of Homeostatic Regulation and Development, Niigata University Graduate School of Medicine and Dental Sciences, Asahimachi, Niigata 951-8510, Japan. oo0612@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Tomohiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oishi
authors.forename: Mitsuo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Narita
authors.forename: Kou
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsui
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shirai
authors.forename: Mai
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsuo
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Negishi
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kaneko
authors.forename: Shinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsukano
authors.forename: Tetsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Taguchi
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uchiyama
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009177:Mycoplasma pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology*; D011019:Pneumonia, Mycoplasma / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D020382:Interleukin-18; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D008775:Methylprednisolone