Elevated levels of interleukin-6 may occur in cerebrospinal fluid from patients with recent epileptic seizures

Experimental animal studies suggest the involvement of cytokines in epilepsy. We measured increased concentrations of interleukin-6 in four out of 15 cerebrospinal fluid samples from unmedicated patients with newly developed tonic-clonic seizures; plasma levels were also increased but to a lesser extent. Although the significance of cytokine production in relation to epileptic seizures is not known, it might be important for neuronal survival. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.