From the Guidelines
If you have very high levels of almost all interleukins, you should seek immediate medical attention as this suggests a significant immune system dysregulation, which can lead to serious inflammatory conditions, autoimmune disorders, or infections, and impact morbidity, mortality, and quality of life. Contact your healthcare provider or go to an emergency department for evaluation, as elevated interleukins often indicate a need for prompt medical intervention 1. No specific medication can be recommended without proper diagnosis, as treatment depends entirely on the underlying cause. Your doctor will likely order additional tests including complete blood count, C-reactive protein, and possibly specific cytokine panels, such as IL-18 and S100 proteins, to determine the exact nature of your immune activation 1.
Some key points to consider when evaluating elevated interleukin levels include:
- The potential for underlying conditions such as Still's disease, which is characterized by elevated levels of IL-18 and S100 proteins 1
- The importance of distinguishing between different conditions, such as macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) and systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis, which may require different treatment approaches 1
- The need for careful monitoring and potentially aggressive treatment, including the use of IL-1 and IL-6 inhibitors, to prevent long-term damage and improve quality of life 1
While waiting for medical care, track any symptoms you're experiencing, such as:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Joint pain
- Rashes as these details will help your healthcare provider make an accurate diagnosis. Interleukins are signaling molecules that coordinate immune responses, and their widespread elevation suggests your immune system is in a state of hyperactivation, which can damage tissues and organs if left untreated 1.
From the Research
Implications of Elevated Interleukin Levels
Elevated levels of almost all Interleukins (ILs) can have various implications, including:
- Pro-inflammatory responses, which contribute to the activation and recruitment of immune cells 2
- Anti-inflammatory responses, which help to suppress excessive inflammation and promote tissue repair 2
- Improved survival and bacterial clearance in polymicrobial sepsis, as seen with interleukin-34 3
- Systemic effects beyond the joints in rheumatoid arthritis, including anemia of chronic disease, cardiovascular risks, bone and muscle functions, and neuro-psychological manifestations 4
- Potential therapeutic roles in diseases such as sepsis and rheumatoid arthritis 3, 4
Disease-Specific Implications
Elevated IL levels can have disease-specific implications, including:
- In COVID-19, interleukin-38 levels may not be significantly affected by the infection, but may vary according to disease severity, age, gender, and body mass index 5
- In Hodgkin's disease, elevated interleukin-10 levels are associated with inferior failure-free survival 6
- In sepsis, elevated interleukin-34 levels may improve survival and bacterial clearance 3
Mechanisms and Effects
The mechanisms and effects of elevated IL levels can be complex and multifaceted, involving:
- Classical and trans-signaling pathways, as seen with interleukin-6 4
- Induction of systemic manifestations at distance from the site of inflammation, as seen with interleukin-6 4
- Protection of B- or T-lymphocytes and hemopoietic progenitors from apoptosis, as seen with interleukin-10 6
- Inhibition of the generation of tumor-specific cytotoxic T cells, as seen with interleukin-10 6