Abstracts

Rationale: Pro- and antiinflammatory cytokines have been implicated to play an important role in neuronal excitability and the occurrence of seizures. Activation of the cytokine network also has been shown in previous studies of febrile seizures. In this study, we investigated the association between cytokines and febrile seizures. Methods: We measured the concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), TNF-α, interferon- γ (IFN-γ), and peripheral WBC counts in serum of 25 children with febrile seizures within 30 minutes after febrile seizure and age-matched controls of 18 febrile children without seizures or neurological symptoms. Patients showing serum CRP level above 2.0 were excluded. Statistical significance of the differences between groups was assessed using Mann-Whitney test. Results: : The age of febrile seizure patients ranged from 0.7 to 4.5 years and the peripheral WBC counts, 4,470/mm3 to 15,990/mm3. The serum IL-6 levels in the febrile seizure patients were significantly higher than febrile children without seizures (153 ±245pg/ml vs. 69.5±106pg/ml, p<0.05). The serum level of IL-6 was not correlated with peripheral CRP level or Body temperature, but with WBC counts. The serum IL-10, TNF-α and IFN-γ level are not significantly different between febrile seizure patients and controls. Conclusions: Present results support that proinflammatory cytokine, IL-6, is activated and could have a role in the pathogenesis of febrile seizures.