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Cytokine profile in cerebrospinal fluid of children with echovirus type 4 meningitis

Ilan Dalal1, Sharon Tzhori, Eli Somekh

  • 1Pediatric Infectious/Allergy/Immunology Unit, E. Wolfson Medical Center, Holon, Israel.

Pediatric Neurology
|December 4, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Interleukin-6 is a key indicator for diagnosing viral meningitis in children. Elevated levels in cerebrospinal fluid correlate with higher leukocyte counts, aiding in accurate diagnosis during outbreaks.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Immunology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Cytokines are implicated in meningeal inflammation and leukocyte recruitment.
  • Elevated cytokine levels are observed in aseptic and viral meningitis.
  • Previous studies lacked homogeneity, confounding results due to multiple viral agents.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytokine concentrations during an echovirus type 4 meningitis outbreak.
  • To correlate CSF cytokine levels with leukocyte counts in pediatric patients.
  • To identify specific cytokines as reliable biomarkers for viral meningitis.

Main Methods:

  • CSF samples from 71 infants and children with echovirus type 4 meningitis and 11 controls were analyzed.
  • Routine CSF characteristics were assessed.
  • Concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interferon gamma (IFN-γ), and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) were measured.

Main Results:

  • Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Interferon gamma (IFN-γ) levels were significantly higher in meningitis patients compared to controls (P < 0.01).
  • Soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) levels did not show a significant difference between groups.
  • Only IL-6 levels demonstrated a significant correlation with leukocyte counts in CSF of viral meningitis patients.

Conclusions:

  • Interleukin-6 is a sensitive and specific biomarker for predicting viral meningitis in a homogeneous patient group.
  • IL-6 levels correlate with leukocyte counts, providing further diagnostic value.
  • This study highlights IL-6's crucial role in the inflammatory response during echovirus meningitis.

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