Oversecretion of IL-18 in haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: A novel marker of disease activity

We investigated the significance of interleukin (IL)-18 levels in the pathophysiology of haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). IL-18 levels were significantly elevated in all nine patients with active HLH compared with those of healthy controls. Serial determination of IL-18 levels in three cases, showed a gradual decrease compared with those of IL-12, interferon (IFN)-γ or soluble Fas ligand (sFasL) in the course of clinical improvement, and seemed to be elevated until complete disappearance of disease activity. IL-18 and IFN-γ (CC 0.711, P = 0.018), and IFN-γ and sFasL (CC 0.849, P = 0.0049) levels were significantly correlated. On the other hand, correlation between IL-12 and IFN-γ, IL-18 and sFasL, or IL-18 and IL-12 was not observed. IL-18, IFN-γ and sFasL levels significantly correlated with disease activity such as fever and alanine transaminase (ALT) levels. IL-18 mRNA expression was enhanced in spleen, but not in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC), bone marrow MNC, liver from patients of active HLH, or the tumour from a patient with lymphoma-associated haemophagocytic syndrome (LAHS). These results suggest that IL-18 may play important roles in the pathogenesis of HLH, particularly through induction of Th1 cells. IL-18 measurement may be useful for the diagnosis and for the detection of smouldering disease activity.