title: T-cell subsets and interleukin-6 response in Rasmussen's encephalitis.
abstract: To evaluate the immunopathogenesis in Rasmussen's encephalitis, peripheral lymphocyte subsets and interleukin-6 analysis were performed in three patients. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging were performed to assess neuronal injury in the affected hemisphere. Before initiation of immune therapy, percentage of cytotoxic T cells was found to be increased in peripheral blood obtained from patients compared with a group of age-matched normal control subjects. During follow-up, percentage of cytotoxic T cells returned to the normal ranges only in one patient who had an early functional hemispherectomy. All three patients had significantly increased interleukin-6 concentration in cerebrospinal fluid and serum compared with the mean values of patients with acute viral encephalitis. The magnitude of interleukin-6 response in the patients correlated with the neuronal loss and atrophy on magnetic resonance spectroscopy and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging studies. The patient, who had a fulminant course and an early hemispherectomy, had higher interleukin-6 concentration in cerebrospinal fluid and serum than those of the other two. Detection of an increased percentage of cytotoxic T cells in peripheral blood supports the presence of a T cell-mediated inflammatory pathogenesis in Rasmussen's encephalitis. However, elevated interleukin-6 response might reflect the magnitude of the inflammatory process in the affected hemisphere.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Ege University Hospital, Izmir, Turkey 35100.
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tekgul
authors.forename: Muzaffer
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Polat
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kitis
authors.forename: Gul
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Serdaroglu
authors.forename: Ayse
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tosun
authors.forename: Semiha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Terlemez
authors.forename: Necil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kutukculer
authors.forename: Yusuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ersahin
authors.forename: Sarenur
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gökben
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000097:blood* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D008297:Male; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6