RESUMO
Interleukin 18 [IL18] is likely to play a role in inflammatory liver disease, it is currently regarded as the primary inducer of INF gamma in inflammatory reaction, in chronic hepatitis C a significant up regulation of IL 18 in the inflammatory infiltrate has been demonstrated. The study aimed to evaluate the serum levels of IL18 in patients with chronic liver disease and to assess its role in the clinical outcome of patients with liver injury. The cohort consisted of 60 subjects age ranged from 32-65 ys, they were stratified into 4 groups; G1: 15 patients with chronic liver diseases. G2: 15 patients with liver cirrhosis G3: 15 patients with Hepatoma. G4: 15 healthy subjects serving as control Beside full routine laboratory tests. The patients were tested for autoantibodies [ANA,SMA, AMA] ,viral markers and determination of IL18 serum by ELISA. At presentation a significant increase of serum IL18 was found in all groups compared to control in addition IL18 was significantly higher in G3 than G2, furthermore it was significantly higher in G2 than G1. Moreover IL18 showed also a significant positive correlation with AST, ALT,TB,DB. in contrast a negative correlation was detected with albumin and PT It can be concluded that IL18 is likely to be involved in the pathogene-sisof human liver diseases