The Assessment of Serum Interleukin-18 (IL-18) Level and Its Role as a Biomarker for Psoriasis in Najaf Province

Abstract

Background: Psoriasis is a common and chronic autoimmune disorder that predominantly impacts the skin. Its development involves genetic susceptibility and immune system activation. The disease affects roughly 2–3% of the world's population. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the IL-18 levels in serum of Iraqi patients suffering from psoriasis and compare it to control groups as a diagnostic biomarker. Material and Methods: A total of 130 people were included in this study. Of these, 65 had psoriasis (43 males and 22 females) and 65 were controls (apparently healthy individuals); 42 were males and 23 were females. The age range of both the psoriasis patient group and the control group was 18 to 70 years. The sandwich Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay test (ELISA) was used to determine the serum levels of IL-18 in both (patients and controls). Results: Serum concentration of IL-18 was significantly markedly elevated in the patients group compared to controls (P < 0.001). ROC analysis indicated that IL-18 has an acceptable diagnostic accuracy in distinguishing psoriasis patients from healthy individuals. There was no significant difference in IL-18 levels between patients with a family history of psoriasis and those without. Additionally, IL-18 levels showed no significant variation between patients with moderate and severe psoriasis. Conclusion: Serum IL-18 levels were significantly higher in psoriasis patients, indicating its potential as a diagnostic marker.