Concentration of Il-1β, Il-2, Il-6, TNFα in the blood serum in children with generalized epilepsy treated by valproate

BackgroundThe aim of the study was the comparison of concentrations of IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6 and TNFα before and after valproate (VPA) treatment in blood serum in patients with generalized seizures diagnosed and treated in the Department of Developmental Neurology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences from January 2006 to May 2007.MethodsThe analysis was conducted in a group of 21 patients with well controlled, generalized seizures (mean age 7.7 ± 4.7 years) before and after 4–6 months of VPA therapy. Quantitative determination IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6 and TNFα were performed with method of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The serum drug concentration was determined with the use of fluorescence-polarization-immunoassay system (FPIA).ResultsThe concentration of IL-6 in blood serum of patients decreased significantly (p < 0.001) after 4–6 months of VPA therapy, but concentration of IL-1β (p = 0.732), IL-2 (p = 0.865), TNFα (p = 0.079) did not change significantly. The serum concentration of VPA in all of patients was in therapeutic range (mean 77.53 ± 19.71 μg/ml).ConclusionsThe serum level of pro-inflammatory IL-6 in patients with generalized epilepsy decreased in statistically significant way during VPA therapy, so the anti-inflammatory properties of VPA are also important for the effective control of seizure. Due to the incompatibility of reports on the influence of VPA on cytokine system in patients with generalized epilepsy, this problem needs more investigations, especially in the group of children.