COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF CLINICAL AND LABORATORY PARAMETERS BETWEEN VIRAL AND BACTERIAL NEUROINFECTIONS

Abstract

Neuroinfections are acute inflammatory diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system that can lead to serious consequences, and even death. Recently, viruses have played a leading role in the emergence of neuroinfections. Rapid identification of the etiological agents is an important prerequisite for proper therapy and a good outcome of the disease. The aim of this study is to determine the role of the cytokines IL-6 and IFN-γ in the cerebrospinal fluid and serum of patients with viral and bacterial neuroinfections in relation to their diagnosis and prognosis. Materials and methods: From 2012-2018, 91 patients were included, aged from 2 months to 82 years. They were divided into 3 groups: 57 with viral neuroinfections , 24 - with bacterial and 10 - control group with cerebral edema. Clinical, epidemiological, laboratory, microbiological, serological and molecular tests were performed in all patients, and in some of them imaging techniques (CT and MRI) had been performed. Cytokines IL-6 and IFN-γ in serum and cerebrospinal fluid were determined by immunological tests. Conclusion: Viral neuroinfections are more common than bacterial ones, they had a milder clinical course and a more favorable outcome. Cytokine levels in the cerebrospinal fluid are a better indicator of inflammatory process in terms of severity than those in the serum. IL-6 levels in the cerebrospinal fluid of viral neuroinfections were higher than IFN-γ. A proportional relationship was established between leukocytes and IL-6 in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with aseptic meningitis.