Interleukin-18 is up-regulated in infectious pleural effusions

Nikoletta Rovina1, Efrossini Dima, Ioannis Psallidas

  • 11st Department of Critical Care Medicine & Pulmonary Services, GP Livanos and M Simou Laboratories, Medical School of Athens University, Evangelismos Hospital, Athens, Greece. nikrovina@med.uoa.gr

Cytokine
|May 11, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is elevated in pleural effusions, particularly in empyema, and drives neutrophilic inflammation in the pleural space. This cytokine is linked to the severity of pleural inflammation across various causes.

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