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Updated: Oct 16, 2026

Systems Analysis of the Neuroinflammatory and Hemodynamic Response to Traumatic Brain Injury
07:21

Systems Analysis of the Neuroinflammatory and Hemodynamic Response to Traumatic Brain Injury

Published on: May 27, 2022

Interleukin-8 is increased in cerebrospinal fluid of children with severe head injury

M J Whalen1, T M Carlos, P M Kochanek

  • 1Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Safar Center for Resuscitation Research, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

Critical Care Medicine
|May 16, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Interleukin-8 (IL-8) levels in cerebrospinal fluid are significantly elevated in children with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), comparable to meningitis cases. Elevated IL-8 is strongly associated with mortality in pediatric TBI patients.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Immunology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) in children can lead to significant neurological deficits and mortality.
  • The inflammatory response plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of TBI.
  • Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a key chemokine involved in inflammatory processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To measure interleukin-8 (IL-8) concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of children with severe TBI.
  • To compare IL-8 levels in TBI patients with those in children with bacterial meningitis and healthy controls.
  • To investigate the association between CSF IL-8 levels and clinical outcomes, including mortality.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective study conducted at a university children's hospital.
  • Inclusion of 27 children with severe TBI (Glasgow Coma Scale score ≤8), 7 with bacterial meningitis, and 24 age-matched controls.
  • Intraventricular catheter placement for continuous CSF drainage and IL-8 concentration measurement.

Main Results:

  • CSF IL-8 concentrations were markedly higher in children with severe TBI compared to controls (p < .0001).
  • IL-8 levels in TBI patients were comparable to those in children with bacterial meningitis (p = .33).
  • Elevated CSF IL-8 persisted for up to 108 hours post-injury and was independently associated with mortality (p = .01).

Conclusions:

  • The findings support an acute inflammatory process in pediatric TBI.
  • CSF IL-8 levels are associated with outcomes in children following TBI.
  • IL-8 may serve as a potential therapeutic target for anti-inflammatory interventions in pediatric TBI.
Abstract

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