[The assessment of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha and interleukin (IL)-1 beta levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum in patients with purulent meningitis].

The purpose of this work was to detect the concentration of cytokines--tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and Interleukin (IL)-1 beta in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum, their diagnostic and prognostic usefulness among patients with purulent meningitis. 25 patients of Centre of Parasitic Diseases and Neuroinfections hospitalized with diagnosis or suspicion of purulent meningitis were studied. The patients were divided into two groups: I-12 persons with diagnosis of purulent meningitis and group II-13 controls where suspicion of meningitis was excluded during clinical procedure. The cytokines were detected by immunometric assay. This examination was performed twice--before and after treatment. In group I-patients with purulent meningitis, TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta CSF concentrations were significantly higher in comparison with group II. After treatment the concentrations of cytokines did not show significant differences between group I and II. In acute phase of meningitis correlations between CSF concentration of TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta and other indexes of inflammation in CSF: pleocytosis, concentration of protein and glucose were found. The serum concentrations of the cytokines were many times lower than in CSF. The detection of TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta CSF concentration can be used to estimate the efficacy of therapy and regression of inflammation in the central nervous system.