Pediatric Rheumatology Online Journal (Jul 2011)

Monitoring serum IL-18 levels is useful for treatment of a patient with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis complicated by macrophage activation syndrome

  • Ochs Hans D,
  • Stevens Anne M,
  • Ou Jing-Ni,
  • Hara Yosuke,
  • Yamazaki Takashi,
  • Shigemura Tomonari,
  • Koike Kenichi,
  • Agematsu Kazunaga

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1546-0096-9-15
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 1
p. 15

Abstract

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Abstract Systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA) is a systemic inflammatory disease characterized by arthritis, spiking fever and a skin rash that is frequently complicated by macrophage activation syndrome (MAS), a life-threatening disorder. We report a 22-month-old girl with sJIA who developed severe MAS but was successfully treated with corticosteroids, cyclosporin A, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs by monitoring serum IL-18 levels. IL-18 is an extremely useful cytokine for monitoring the activity of sJIA and MAS, and serum IL-18 can be used as an indicator for the effectiveness of treatment and the decision to discontinue therapy.