IL18 and systemic lupus erythematosus: In this study, Malay SLE carriers with the HLA-DRB1*04 allele showed a significant association with the increasing levels of cytokines including IFN-γ, GM-CSF, IL-17F, IL-18, IL-21, and VEGF and a significant negative association with IL-5, LPO, and CAT enzymes.