CD-163 is a membrane bound receptor primary expressed in monocytes and macrophages. CD163 was originally described as a hemoglobin scavenger receptor since it is involved in removing hemoglobin released from ruptured red blood cells (Moestrup, Moller 2004). A soluble variant of CD-163 (s-CD-163) is present in plasma and is elevated in pathological condition activating the monocyte-macrophage system.