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Early changes in pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in neonates with encephalopathy are associated with remote epilepsy

Adam L Numis1,2, Audrey Foster-Barber3,4, Xutao Deng5

  • 1Department of Neurology, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA. Adam.Numis@ucsf.edu.

Pediatric Research
|June 25, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines, specifically IL-6 and TNF-α, in newborns with brain injury may predict the development of epilepsy. Further research is needed to confirm these findings.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal neurology
  • Neuroinflammation
  • Biomarkers

Background:

  • Neonatal seizures can lead to long-term neurological issues, including childhood epilepsy.
  • Understanding the biological markers associated with neonatal seizures and subsequent epilepsy is crucial for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between cytokine levels in neonates with brain injury and the occurrence of acute seizures or later epilepsy.
  • To identify potential biomarkers for predicting epilepsy risk in newborns.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort study of 26 term newborns with encephalopathy was conducted.
  • Dried blood spots were analyzed for cytokine levels.
  • Logistic regression was used to correlate cytokine levels with acute seizures and epilepsy development.

Main Results:

  • Diffuse alterations in pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine levels were observed in neonates with acute seizures compared to those without.
  • Higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α) within the IL-1β pathway were significantly associated with the development of epilepsy.
  • 24% of patients with adequate follow-up developed epilepsy.

Conclusions:

  • Elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines in the IL-1β pathway are linked to an increased risk of epilepsy in neonates with brain injury.
  • Circulating cytokine levels may serve as predictive biomarkers for epilepsy.
  • Larger studies are required to validate these findings and confirm the predictive value of these biomarkers.
Abstract

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