Possible contribution of interferon-alpha to febrile seizures in influenza

The systemic symptoms associated with influenza infection are mainly attributable to cytokines. To elucidate whether the high incidence of creatine kinase elevation and febrile seizures in influenza infection could be related to cytokines, we examined the serum levels of creatine kinase and cytokines (interferon-alpha, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha) in patients with influenza and other febrile illness. Among those in the influenza group, 12 of 43 patients demonstrated elevated levels of creatine kinase (more than 200 IU/L), whereas in the control group two of 14 patients demonstrated elevated creatine kinase levels. When age was limited to under 7 years, seven of 32 patients (21.9%) in the influenza group had febrile seizures, whereas one of seven patients (14.3%) had a seizure in the control group. The influenza group demonstrated significantly high levels of interferon-alpha and interleukin-6. There was no correlation between cytokine levels and duration of fever or serum creatine kinase levels. The number of patients with high levels of interferon-alpha (>400 pg/mL) was significantly larger in the febrile seizure group than in the control group (six of seven patients in the febrile seizure group, 16 of 36 in the control group; P < 0.05). The present findings suggest the possible contribution of interferon-alpha in the pathogenesis of febrile seizures.