IL18 and pulmonary tuberculosis: (181) found that pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-8 (CXCL-8) and IL-18 were significantly increased in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis, and the plasma levels of these proinflammatory cytokines (such as IL-8/CXCL-8, IL-18) were significantly correlated with mycobacterial load, degree of X-ray consolidation, tuberculosis severity score, and length of hospitalization.