Cytokine expression in patients with treated congenital hydrocephalus: a preliminary report of five patients.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies have described the elaboration of cytokines in experimental models of congenital hydrocephalus using rats or mice. However, there have been no reports of similar studies in humans.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the cytokine expression pattern in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with treated congenital hydrocephalus.


METHODS
A prospective study.


METHODS
Wentworth Hospital, Durban, South Africa.


METHODS
Five patients (three infants and two older patients) with congenital hydrocephalus treated by means of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt.


METHODS
Immunophenotyping of peripheral blood was performed on a flow cytometer. The isolation, in-vitro stimulation of peripheral blood and CSF mononuclear cells, and intracellular cytokine determination by flow cytometry were performed.


METHODS
Peripheral blood and CSF cytokine measurements.


RESULTS
Although not statistically significant, all measured mean cytokine levels in the peripheral blood of the infant group were consistently higher than that of the adult group. CSF cytokine levels in both groups were similar and unremarkable.


CONCLUSIONS
No clear pattern of CSF cytokine elaboration, either type-1 (T helper 1) (Th1) or Type-2 (T helper 2) (Th2), could be demonstrated in either of the groups. The significance of higher peripheral blood cytokine levels in the infants is unclear, but may be age-related, and is not apparent in the CSF.
Nadvi
S S
SS
Department of Neurosurgery, University of Natal, Faculty of Medicine, Durban, South Africa.
Annamalai
K
K
Naicker
V L
VL
Govender
U G
UG
Nathoo
N
N
Van Dellen
J R
JR
Bhigjee
A I
AI
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D002648:Child; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D051381:Rats; D017287:Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt
D016207:Cytokines