Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a multifunctional cytokine that regulates the immune response, differentiation of B cells, activation of T lymphocytes and acute phase reactions.
Aim of the study: Quantitation of interleukin-6 in cerebrospinal fluid from patients with purulent bacterial meningitis (PBM) and viral meningitis (VM) on the first day of hospitalization.
Patients and methods: IL-6 activity was measured in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 15 children with VM (predominantly 13/15 caused by mumps virus) in age ranging from 2.5 to 15 years and 13 patients with PBM (age ranging from 18 to 52 years). The control group consisted of 10 patients with meningeal syndrome and normal laboratory estimation of CSF (white cells count, concentration of glucose and protein). The IL-6 assays were performed using immunoenzymatic method, ELISA (Amersham) technique.
Results: Increased levels of IL-6 were detected in the CSF of patients with bacterial meningitis and with viral meningitis. CSF IL-6 levels were 6 times greater in patients with purulent bacterial versus viral meningitis. The highest level of IL-6 was observed in a 18 years old patient with pneumococcal meningitis who died.
Conclusion: We suggest that cytokine levels may be valuable in distinguishing patients with purulent bacterial meningitis from viral meningitis and may help in prognosis of patients with purulent meningitis.