慢性HBV感染者外周血单个核细胞IL-18水平的意义

目的探讨乙型肝炎病毒（HBV）感染者外周血单个核细胞（PBMC）白介素18（IL-18）水平与慢性乙型肝炎病情的活动程度和肝组织炎症的相关性。方法通过流式细胞术对147例HBV感染者PBMC中IL-18水平进行了检测，同时对其中22例慢性乙型肝炎和HBV慢性携带者行肝穿刺进行肝脏病理组织学检查。结果IL-18水平在慢性肝炎中度、慢性肝炎重度、急性重度肝炎、急性重度肝炎中的表达呈渐次上升，并且随着肝脏炎症活动度的增加，IL-18水平也随之升高。结论IL-18在不同的HBV感染状态下表达水平不同，与慢性乙型肝炎病情的活动和肝组织炎症程度呈相关性，可作为治疗与判定预后的重要指标。

Clinical significance of peripheral blood mononuclear cell IL-18 level in patients with chronic HBV infection

Objective To study the relevance of peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) IL- 18 level in patients with chronic HBV infection and the activity of chronic hepatitis B as well as the ex- tent of hepatic tissue inflammation. Methods Flow cytometry was applied to measuring IL-18 level in PBMCs isolated from 147 patients with HBV infection; meanwhile, 22 cases with hepatitis B patients or HBV carriers underwent needling biopsy of liver for liver histopathologic examination. Results IL- 18 level was rising step by step in moderate chronic hepatitis, severe chronic hepatitis, chronic serious hepatitis and acute fatal hepatitis. Elevation of IL-18 level was correlative to the activity of hepatic tis- sue inflammation. Conclusion The expression level of IL-18 is different in various HBV infection states, which is correlative to the activity of chronic hepatitis B as well as the extent of hepatic tissue inflammation. Therefore, IL-18 may be used as an important index of evaluating therapeutic effect and prognosis.