Serial examination of serum IL-8, IL-10 and IL-1Ra levels is significant in neonatal seizures induced by hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy.

We investigated changes in the levels of significant cytokines in relation to neonatal seizures, a pattern of cytokine concentrations serially and the severity of brain insult. The hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy-induced seizure group consisted of 13 patients, and another 15 normal newborns were enrolled as a control group. All of the initial samples were obtained within the first 24 h of admission, and the second samples were obtained between 48 and 72 h in both groups. Only the third samples were taken in the seizure group on the 5th day. During neonatal seizures, the levels of most cytokines increased within 24 h, and, in particular, the levels of interleukin (IL)-8 significantly increased (P < 0.05). After 48-72 h of seizure onset, the levels of most cytokines decreased, especially, IL-1Ra; however, IL-8 and IL-10 remained increased (P < 0.05). During the prognosis, one patient who was diagnosed with quadriplegic cerebral palsy at 6 months of age presented extreme elevation of IL-1beta, IL-1Ra, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in the initial sample, reflecting the severity of brain damage. A significant increase in IL-8 may serve as a biomarker for earlier detection of brain damage in neonatal seizure, if detected within 24 and 48-72 h of the seizure.