J Rheum Dis.  2020 Apr;27(2):110-115. 10.4078/jrd.2020.27.2.110.

Circulating Interleukin-18 Level in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

• Lee YH
• Song GG

• KMID: 2471952
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4078/jrd.2020.27.2.110

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between circulating interleukin (IL)-18 levels and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and establish a correlation between plasma/serum IL-18 levels and SLE activity.
METHODS
We performed a meta-analysis comparing plasma/serum IL-18 levels in patients with SLE to controls by using fixed or random effects model based on the heterogeneity.
RESULTS
Sixteen studies with 659 SLE patients and 502 controls were included in this meta-analysis. Meta-analysis showed that IL-18 levels were significantly higher in the SLE group (standardized mean difference=1.556, 95% confidence interval=1.087~2.024, p<0.001). Stratifying by ethnicity showed that IL-18 levels were significantly elevated in the SLE groups of European, Asian, and Arab populations. Stratification by adjustment for age and/or sex revealed a significantly higher IL-18 level in the SLE group, independently of the adjustment. Subgroup analysis by sample size showed significantly higher IL-18 levels in the SLE group for both large sample (n≥50) and small sample (n<50) subgroups. Subgroup analysis by data type showed significantly higher IL-18 levels in the SLE group for both original and calculated data populations.
CONCLUSION
This meta-analysis demonstrated that circulating IL-18 levels are higher in patients with SLE.

Keyword

Association; Lupus erythematosus, systemic; Interleukin-18

MeSH Terms

Arabs
Asian Continental Ancestry Group
Humans
Interleukin-18*
Interleukins
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic*
Population Characteristics
Sample Size
Interleukin-18
Interleukins

Figure

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  Figure 1. Meta-analysis of relationship of interleukin-18 level with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Std diff: standardized difference, CI: confidence interval.

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  Figure 2. Funnel plot investigating the relation of inter-leukin-18 with systemic lupus erythematosus (Egger regression p-value=0.003). Filled circles reflect studies showing publication bias. Diamonds at the bottom of the figure display estimates of summary effect before (open) and after (filled) adjustment of publishing bias. Std diff: standardized difference, Std err: standardized error.

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