CSF IL-6 in children with neuroinflammatory conditions.
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INTRODUCTION: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytokines may contribute to immune-mediated processes affecting the central nervous system (CNS). We evaluated CSF cytokine profiles in children with suspected neuroinflammatory conditions to explore their clinical relevance. METHODS: Between 2019 and 2024, CSF from children <18 years were analyzed using BD Biosciences cytokine bead array for interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, interferon-alpha (IFN-α), and tumour necrosis-factor-alpha (TNF-α). Clinical phenotyping was conducted. Serum cytokine levels were measured in cases with abnormal CSF, when available. RESULTS: 112 patients were included (median age 6 years [IQR 3.6-11.2]; 54 % male). CSF IL-6 was raised in 35/112 (31 %; median 107 pg/ml, IQR 24-329). No other cytokine was raised without concurrent IL-6. Raised CSF IL-6 occurred in 16/50 acquired neuroimmune conditions (including myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease, seronegative demyelination, seronegative autoimmune encephalitis, and febrile-infection-related epilepsy syndrome), 5/9 CNS infections; 9/17 monogenic autoinflammatory syndromes, and 5/7 cancer treatment-related neurotoxicities. Of the 35 patients with raised CSF IL-6, 21 had serum cytokines tested; 13 (62 %) showed elevated serum IL-6. In demyelinating cases, higher IL-6 was associated with increased CSF protein (p = 0.007). Follow-up CSF samples (n = 16, median 34 days) showed persistent elevation in 7 and normalisation in 9. IL-6 inhibitors (tocilizumab and/or siltuximab) were used in 10 patients with variable outcomes, depending on the underlying etiology. CONCLUSIONS: CSF IL-6 was the most frequently elevated cytokine in our cohort, observed across a range of primary and secondary neuroinflammatory disorders. While not diagnostic of a specific condition, its elevation may help guide treatment decisions.