[P1-28] Cerebrospinal fluid B-cell activating factor level as a biomarker of acute encephalitis in children
[Background] B-cell activating factor (BAFF) is a potent survival factor for B cells and plays an essential role in peripheral B-cell homeostasis. The elevation of BAFF level in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has been reported in patients with various neuroinflammatory diseases. Acute encephalitis is a life-threatening neurological disease caused by inflammation of the brain parenchyma. There are few reports about the CSF BAFF value in pediatric patients with acute encephalitis or other neurological emergent diseases, such as febrile seizure, epilepsy, and benign convulsions with mild gastroenteritis, which are non-neuroinflammatory disorders.
[Patients and methods] CSF levels of BAFF, phosphorylated forms of neurofilament H, the cytokines interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17A, interferon (IFN)-γ, and tumor necrosis factor-α were examined in pediatric patients with acute encephalitis (n = 15) or without (n = 17), who exhibited complex febrile seizure, epilepsy, or benign convulsions with mild gastroenteritis.
[Results] A significant difference in CSF BAFF was observed between the acute encephalitis and non- acute encephalitis groups (p = 0.0001). In the acute encephalitis group, CSF BAFF level showed significant positive correlations with CSF cell count and CSF values of protein, IL-6, IL-10, and phosphorylated forms of neurofilament H. Moreover, all acute encephalitis patients with sequelae had elevated concentrations of CSF BAFF.
[Conclusions] CSF BAFF may specifically correlate with neuroinflammation, and represent a potential diagnostic and prognostic indicator for children with acute encephalitis.
[Patients and methods] CSF levels of BAFF, phosphorylated forms of neurofilament H, the cytokines interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17A, interferon (IFN)-γ, and tumor necrosis factor-α were examined in pediatric patients with acute encephalitis (n = 15) or without (n = 17), who exhibited complex febrile seizure, epilepsy, or benign convulsions with mild gastroenteritis.
[Results] A significant difference in CSF BAFF was observed between the acute encephalitis and non- acute encephalitis groups (p = 0.0001). In the acute encephalitis group, CSF BAFF level showed significant positive correlations with CSF cell count and CSF values of protein, IL-6, IL-10, and phosphorylated forms of neurofilament H. Moreover, all acute encephalitis patients with sequelae had elevated concentrations of CSF BAFF.
[Conclusions] CSF BAFF may specifically correlate with neuroinflammation, and represent a potential diagnostic and prognostic indicator for children with acute encephalitis.