A Possible Role of Interleukin-18 Binding Protein in Immune Regulation of Postoperative Pain: A Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial

Background/Aim: A possible role of interleukin-18 binding protein (IL-18BP) in immune regulation of pain and analgesics following surgery is rarely studied. The aim of this study was to investigate serum IL-18BP values in a cohort of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) and minilaparotomy cholecystectomy (MC) patients and to establish their relationship with other cytokines and number of analgesic doses (NAD) of LC and MC patients postoperatively. Patients and Methods: Blood levels of IL-18BP, six other interleukins (IL-18, IL-1ra, IL- 6, IL-10, IL-1 beta, and IL- 8) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were measured before operation (PRE), immediately after operation (POP1), and six hours after operation (POP2) in 114 patients with cholelithiasis. Results: Following surgery, the mean serum IL-18BP values correlated significantly to numeric rating scale (NRS) pain scores at 24 hours (r=0.194, p=0.009). In addition, the mean serum IL-18BP values correlated significantly to NAD (r=0.254, p<0.001). Conclusion: IL-18BP, a soluble antagonist of IL-18, correlates to NRS and NAD in LC and MC patients, which may support a possible role of IL-18BP in immune regulation of postoperative pain.

Automated summary

In patients with cholelithiasis, postoperative serum IL-18BP values are significantly correlated with pain scores and analgesic doses, indicating a potential role of IL-18BP in immune regulation of postoperative pain.