Evaluation of Serum Levels of Interleukin-18, and C-Reactive Protein in Iraqi patient with Diabetic Nephropathy

Background: chronic renal failure is a public health issue worldwide. It is arising due to various factors, including genetic predisposition, increased life expectancy and lifestyle-related elements. Diabetes is the primary cause of end-stage renal disease, and diabetic nephropathy occurs in 30 to 40% of patients. Aims: the objective of this research is to provide insight into the evaluation of the serum levels of IL18 and CRP in Iraqi patient with diabetic nephropathy. Procedure: This study conducted as a case-control study of Iraqi patients with diabetic nephropathy, the study comprised 40 patients with an equal number of healthy age-and sex-matched individuals in the control group. The blood samples collected and the levels of interleukin-18 and C-reactive protein were measured in both groups. Results: The study found a significant increase (p≤0.05) in the serum levels of IL-18 and CRP in diabetic nephropathy patients when compared to the control group. The mean IL-18 level in DN patients was 53.787 ± 1.639 pg/ml, significantly higher than the control group's 26.818 ± 1.751 pg/ml. whereas, the mean CRP level in DN patients was 8.908 ± 0.658 mg/ml, compared to 3.675 ± 0.360 mg/ml in the control group. There were significant positive correlations between IL-18 and CRP levels (r = 0.348, p = 0.006), and between IL-18 and HbA1c levels (r = 0.429, p = 0.001). Conclusion: Elevated IL-18 is associated with increased CRP and HbA1c levels, suggesting a link between inflammation and glycemic control in diabetic nephropathy.