The early elevation of interleukin 6 concentration in cerebrospinal fluid and delayed encephalopathy of carbon monoxide poisoning

ObjectiveThis study was designed to investigate whether interleukin 6 (IL-6) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the early phase of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning can be a predictive marker of delayed encephalopathy (DE).MethodsNine patients with CO poisoning were included in the study. Cerebrospinal fluid was sampled within 24 hours of the last exposure to CO, on hospital day 4, and once a week for at least 1 month to determine IL-6 and myelin basic protein concentrations. All patients were followed at least 3 months.ResultsThree patients demonstrated significant early IL-6 elevation in CSF, normal IL-6 level in CSF on day 4, and significant delayed myelin basic protein elevation in CSF. The 2 patients with the highest early IL-6 elevation in CSF developed DE. Interleukin 6 in serum was not related to DE.ConclusionInterleukin 6 in CSF at the early phase of CO poisoning may be a predictive marker of DE.