Cytokine expression in patients with treated congenital hydrocephalus: a preliminary report of five patients.

Abstract

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.

DESIGN:

A prospective study.

SETTING:

Wentworth Hospital, Durban, South Africa.

SUBJECTS:

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

INTERVENTIONS:

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.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

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.

CONCLUSION:

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.

• Authors: S S Nadvi, K Annamalai, V L Naicker, U G Govender, N Nathoo, J R Van Dellen, A I Bhigjee
• Journal: East African medical journal (East Afr Med J) Vol. 76 Issue 12 Pg. 696-9 (Dec 1999) ISSN: 0012-835X [Print] Kenya
• PMID: 10734543 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Cytokines

Topics

• Age Factors
• Animals
• Blood Cell Count
• Child
• Cytokines (blood, cerebrospinal fluid)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Female
• Flow Cytometry
• Humans
• Hydrocephalus (blood, cerebrospinal fluid, etiology, immunology, surgery)
• Immunophenotyping
• Infant
• Male
• Mice
• Middle Aged
• Prospective Studies
• Rats
• Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt