Infants with DS/CHD, infants without DS but with CHD (CHD only) and healthy infants were prospectively recruited and serial serum cytokines evaluated peri-operatively using multiplex ELISA: tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and TNF-β; interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-18, IL-1β, IL-10, and IL-1ra; vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF); granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF); and erythropoietin (EPO). The gene discussed is IL18; the disease is coronary artery disorder.