Herpetic encephalitis (HSE) is one of the most severe
infection of the central nervous system (CNS), connected with high mortality rate, even when appropriate
therapy has been introduced. Better understanding of pathomechanisms responsible for neuronal injury during the course of the disease can be useful in the assessment of the risk of the occurrence of severe complications, as well as in potential introduction of additional therapeutic methods. The purpose of this study is to assess the correlation between concentration of
neopterin and
IL-6 in the CSF and serum, and the course of HSE. In this study, 36 patients with HSE were investigated, and the control group consisted of 32 patients in whom the
infection of the CNS was excluded. We observed significantly higher concentration of
neopterin and
IL-6 in the CSF of patients with HSV as compared with the control group.
Neopterin and
IL-6 levels in the CSF correlated with the course of HSE. Higher values were connected with the risk of
respiratory failure, development of permanent neurologic complications and patient death. Negative correlations between concentration of
IL-6 and
neopterin and patient condition assessed by Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) were observed.
Neopterin with high sensitivity and specificity allowed to predict the risk of death or severe neurological complications. Increased concentration of
neopterin and
IL-6 in the CSF and serum revealed reciprocal positive correlation. Assessment of the concentration of
IL-6 and
neopterin in the serum was not useful to predict the course of HSE.