The changes of plasma levels of cytokines in patients of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and its clinical significance

Objective To explore the role of cytokines on the pathogenesis of hypoxic-ischemic en-cephalopathy (HIE). Method The levels of peripheral blood interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in 40 HIE and 40 healthy neonates were detected at the 1st, 3rd and 7th day after birth by using radioimmunoassay. Results Compared with healthy neonates, at the 1 st, 3rd after birth, the level of peripheral blood IL-6 was decreased [(52.3±24.5)ng/L vs (80.1±28.6)ng/L and (56.9±28.5) ng/L vs (78.6±28.9)ng/L, respoctively], but IL-15 and TNF-α were increased [IL-8:(0.68±0.23)ng/L vs (0.47±0.13)ng/L and (0.63±0.22)ng/L vs (0.40±0.16)ng/L, TNF-α: (1.17±0.30)ng/L vs (0.91± 0.30) ng/L and (1.14±0.29)ng/L vs (0.96±0.34)ng/L]in HIE infants. Conclusion The changes of plas-ma levels of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α in neonatal HIE possibly play an important role in the pathophysiologic mechanisms of HIE. Key words: Hypoxia-ischemia, brain;  Interleukin-6;  Interleukin-8;  Tumor necrosis fac-tor-alpha