The relationship between interleukin-6 and epileptic seizure

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels and the type of the seizure, etiology of the seizure and the infection parameters which were fever, leukocyte count and c-reactive protein (CRP) in epileptic patients. Material and Methods: A total of 48 people were included in the study, containing a patient group of 24 and a control group of 24. IL-6, fever, leukocyte and CRP levels were measured and recorded. The patients were categorized according to the type and etiology of the seizures. The relationship between IL-6 levels and infection parameters, type and etiology of seizures were evaluated. Results: IL-6 levels were significantly higher in epileptic patients than that of the control group. There were no correlations between IL-6 levels and fever, leukocyte and CRP. The patients were evaluated according to the seizure type. There was no significant relationship between IL-6 levels of control group and IL-6 levels of patients with partial epileptic seizures (p=0.270). However, there was significant relationship between IL-6 levels of the control group and that of patients with primary generalized, secondary generalized seizures and generalized status epilepticus (p=0.012, p=0.011 and p=0.040, respectively). Epilepsy etiology was not associated with levels of IL-6. Conclusion: High levels of IL-6 after epileptic seizures might be detected independent from infection parameters and epilepsy etiology. IL-6 levels might be higher in patients with primary generalized, secondary generalized seizures and generalized status epilepticus than that of patients with partial seizures.