[Interferon gamma concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with tick-borne encephalitis].
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this work was to evaluate interferon gamma (IFN-g) concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with diagnosed tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) early in the course of the disease and after the treatment.


METHODS
The cerebrospinal fluid of 40 patients with TBE was examined. Patients were divided into 4 groups: group 1 consisted of 13 patients with mild clinical course, group 2 included 12 patients with prolonged TBE showing the presence of inflammatory markers after the treatment, group 3 comprised 9 patients with severe TBE presenting with disorders of consciousness and group 4 consisted of 6 patients with a simultaneous B. burgdorferi infection. The cerebrospinal fluid was examined twice--during TBE diagnosing and after the treatment. IFN-g was detected by the ELISA method.


RESULTS
The concentration of IFN-g in the cerebrospinal fluid in the first examination was significantly higher in all four groups of patients in comparison with controls. After the treatment, concentration of IFN-g decreased significantly in all studied groups. The highest concentration of IFN-g at the first examination was found in group 3. The concentration of IFN-g at the second examination was similar among 4 groups of patients and in controls.


CONCLUSIONS
We found the correlation between IFN-g concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients at the early stage of TBE and inflammation activity. We did not find any association between IFN-g concentration and a persistent increase of the cerebrospinal fluid parameters.
Kondrusik
Maciej
M
Klinika Chorób Zakaźnych i Neuroinfekcji, Akademia Medyczna w Białymstoku. mkondrusik@poczta.onet.pl
Zajkowska
Joanna
J
Pancewicz
Sławomir
S
Swierzbińska
Renata
R
Grygorczuk
Sambor
S
Hermanowska-Szpakowicz
Teresa
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004669:Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004675:Encephalitis, Tick-Borne / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000188:drug therapy; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D007371:Interferon-gamma