[Interleukin-1-mediated diseases]

Interleukin-1 (IL-1)-mediated diseases are caused by an inappropriately high production and release of IL-1 beta which results in a multitude of symptoms, e.g. arthritis, exanthema, conjunctivitis, serositis, fever and loss of hearing. If IL-1-mediated diseases remain unrecognized or are recognized and treated too late, long-term complications, such as amyloidosis may occur. In recent years the diagnostic and therapeutic options with respect to IL-1-mediated diseases have drastically improved. These diseases often manifesting in childhood can now be treated with monoclonal antibodies against IL-1 or with IL-1 receptor antagonists. Increased IL-1 secretion does not only play a role in relatively rare hereditary diseases, such as cryopyrin-associated periodic fever syndromes or familial Mediterranean fever but also in widespread diseases, such as gout or type 2 diabetes. This article will focus on pathogenic, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of IL-1-mediated inflammatory diseases.