Analysis of selected pro-inflammatory cytokines: IL-1β, IL-6, CXCL-8, and TNF-α in children with seizure disorders during acute infection. Is there a specific pro-inflammatory cytokine profile in these patients?

Introduction and objective: This study aimed to analyse the levels of selected pro-inflammatory cytokines in children with seizures during acute infection. Materials and methods: The study was conducted in the Department of Infectious Diseases and Child Neurology of the Poznan University of Medical Sciences from 19 January 2017 to 5 December 2020. Pro-inflammatory cytokines were measured in 64 patients with febrile seizures and 11 patients after an epileptic seizure in generalised epilepsy. The control group comprised 46 patients with delayed development. Serum pro-inflammatory cytokines were determined using the BioLegend’s ELISA MAX™ Deluxe Set. Pathogens were detected by standard diagnostic methods. Total white blood cell count, C-reactive protein and procalcitonin were determined using standard diagnostic methods. Results: Significantly higher levels of all analysed pro-inflammatory cytokines were found in patients with simple and simple plus febrile seizures; interleukin 6, CXCL-8 in those with complex febrile seizures; interleukin 6, CXCL-8, tumour necrosis factor α following epileptic seizure. The intensity of the inflammatory response in simple and simple plus febrile seizure patients corresponded to significantly higher levels of all pro-inflammatory cytokines and inflammatory markers. Pro-inflammatory profiles differed depending on the aetiology of the infection. Significantly higher levels interleukin 6, CXCL-8, tumour necrosis factor α were found in simple and simple plus febrile seizure patients infected with human herpesvirus-6 compared to the control group. Conclusions: In patients with febrile seizures and epileptic seizures, the involvement of interleukin 1β, interleukin 6, CXCL-8, and tumour necrosis factor α was confirmed in the inflammatory process, with a different distribution in the analysed groups. Pro-inflammatory cytokine profiles varied depending on the infectious aetiology.