Weekly issue 2026-W40 ·
Assessment of Interleukin-15 (IL-15) Concentration in Children with Cystic Kidney Disease
Plain language
IL-15 is a signalling molecule of the immune system. In 47 children with cystic kidney disease and 41 without, IL-15 levels in blood and urine were higher in the children with cysts, even when their kidney function was still normal. That hints at early inflammation-related activity in cystic kidneys. It is a small first study, and IL-15 is not a test used in care.
Clinical note
Case–control study: 47 children with cystic kidney disease vs 41 controls; serum and urinary IL-15 by ELISA. IL-15 higher in both compartments, independent of eGFR and similar across cystic subtypes; remained associated with disease status on logistic regression, with high ROC discrimination. Suggests early epithelial or inflammatory signalling rather than functional damage. Small, heterogeneous, cross-sectional and with diagnostic accuracy likely overestimated — exploratory biomarker only.
Question for your next visit
Which tests are most useful for following my child’s cystic kidney disease while kidney function is still normal?