Comparative study of Interleukin-18 (IL-18) serum levels in adult onset Still's disease (AOSD) and systemic onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA) and its use as a biomarker for diagnosis and evaluation of disease activity.

Background: Signs and symptoms establish the diagnosis of adult onset Still's disease (AOSD) as well as of systemic onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA). The published data regarding the importance of IL-18 as a marker for diagnosis and disease activity so far are conflicting. The aim of this study was to clarify the role of IL-18 as a diagnostic and disease activity marker in AOSD and sJIA.