Significance of serum cytokine levels in detecting immune disorders in children with viral meningitis

Objective. To establish the clinical significance of the indicators of the blood cytokine status in determining the degree of immune disorders and the course of viral meningitis (VM) and the prediction of its outcome in children. Subjects and methods. ELISA was used to estimate the serum levels of interleukins (IL-lß, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10), TNF-а, and interferons (INF-а and INF-y) in 450 children aged less than 14 years with VM of different etiologies (enterovirus, arbovirus, mumps, adenovirus, and herpes virus) and in 50 healthy children of the same age. Results. It is established that an imbalance of cytokine regulation in children with VM depends on the period, severity, and course of the disease, is characterized by the activation of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1ß, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-а) and the suppression of IL-2, IFN-а, and IFN-y, and reflects the severity of immune disorders. Conclusion. The findings may be used to predict the course of the disease, to determine the degree of immune disorders, to diagnose secondary immunodeficiencies, and to use appropriate immunomodulatory therapy.

viral meningitis, children, cytokines