Changes in the IL-18, IL-22, and T lymphocyte subset levels in patients with hepatitis B-related liver cirrhosis and their predictive values for hepatorenal syndrome.

Objective: To investigate the changes in the interleukin (IL)-18, IL-22, and T lymphocyte subset levels in patients with hepatitis B-related liver cirrhosis and to determine their predictive values for hepatorenal syndrome (HRS).

Methods: Clinical data of 70 healthy individuals (group A) and 84 patients with hepatitis B-related liver cirrhosis (group B) admitted to Hospital 989 of the PLA Joint Logistics Support Force were retrospectively collected. The serum levels of IL-18 and IL-22, concentrations of cluster of differentiation (CD)3, CD4, and CD8 cells, as well as the CD4/CD8 ratio in the peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets were measured. Further, their predictive values for HRS were determined. Logistic regression analysis was employed to identify independent risk factors for HRS.

Results: In group B, the posttreatment IL-18 and IL-22 levels and CD8 cell concentration significantly decreased after treatment, whereas the CD3 and CD4 cell concentrations and CD4/CD8 ratio increased. Notably, the serum IL-18 and IL-22 levels were higher in patients with HRS than in those without. Also, the CD3 and CD4 cell concentrations and CD4/CD8 ratio in the peripheral blood were lower in patients with HRS than in those without. The sensitivities of the serum IL-18 and IL-22 levels for predicting HRS were 90.32% and 80.65%, and the specificities were 71.70% and 77.36%, respectively. The sensitivities of CD3, CD4, and CD8 cell concentrations for predicting HRS were 77.42%, 90.32%, and 83.87%, and the specificity was 67.92%, 64.15%, and 52.83%, respectively. Moreover, the sensitivity and specificity of CD4/CD8 ratio for predicting HRS were 80.65% and 86.79%, respectively.

Conclusions: IL-18, IL-22, and T lymphocyte subset levels may have significant implications in the progression of hepatitis B-related liver cirrhosis, and detecting these markers could aid in treatment, evaluation, and prediction of HRS in patients. Furthermore, IL-18 and IL-22 levels and the CD4/CD8 ratio were identified as independent risk factors for HRS.