IL18 and liver dysplastic nodule: However, its diagnostic value in early-stage DN is limited because renal injury commonly precedes urinary albumin secretion[6].Inflammation plays a crucial role in development and progression of DN, as many inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6),interleukin-8 (IL-18), and tumor necrosis factorα (TNF-α) contribute in the pathogenesis of DN [12].