OBJECTIVE: To analyze the usefulness of determining the cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-alpha),interleukin-1beta(IL-1beta) and interleukin-6(IL-6)for the early diagnosis and evaluation of the prognosis of neonatal meningitis. METHOD: We studied 54 newborn that underwent lumbar puncture.Thirty patients had meningitis and 24 were the control group.CSF and sera were obtained at the moment of suspicion of meningitis and stored at -70(0)C.Cytokines were performed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. RESULTS: CSF cytokines were detected in all the newborn with meningitis.TNF-alpha was detected in the CSF in 63.3% of the neonates, IL-1beta in 73.3% and IL-6 in 96.6%.The CSF levels were significantly higher than serum in neonates with meningitis.There was no correlation between the CSF levels of cytokines and neurologic complications. CONCLUSION: The detection of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 in the CSF is of great value in order to achieve a early diagnosis of neonatal meningitis.Among the three cytokines analyzed, IL-6 was the best indicator of meningeal inflammation.
meningitis; cerebrospinal fluid; newborn; tumor necrosis factor-alpha; interleukin-1beta; interleukin-6
