Increased serum ferritin and interleukin-18 levels in children with dengue.

Activated monocytes/macrophages that produce a cytokine storm play an important role in the pathogenesis of dengue. Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a proinflammatory cytokine produced by monocyte/macrophages that is increased during dengue. Ferritin is an acute-phase reactant and expressed by cells of the reticulo-endothelial system in response to infection by dengue virus.