Measurements of peak levels of cytokine profiles have identified several cytokines that correlate with CRS severity, including IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-15, sIL2Rα, sgp130, sIL6R, MCP-1, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, TNFRp55 and GM-CSF. Here, CXCL8 is linked to congenital rubella syndrome.