The clinical application of determination of plasma IL-6, TNF-α and cortisol (at 8:00 and 20:00) levels for assessment of severity of the disease in patients with acute brain injury

Objective: To investigate the clinical usefulness of determination of plasma IL-6, TNF-α and cortisol (at 8:00 and 24:00) levels in patients with acute brain injury. Methods: Plasma IL-6, TNF-α and cortisol (at 8:00 and 24:00) levels were determined with RIA in 112 patients with acute brain injury and 58 controls. The 112 patients were of 3 groups: (1) mild, Glascow score 13-15, n=46 (2) moderate, score 9-12, n=31 (3) severe, score 3-8, n=35. Results: The plasma IL-6, TNF -α and cortisol (at 8:00 and 24:00) levels were significantly higher in the patients with brain injury than those in the controls (P all <0.01). The more severe the illnesses, the higher IL-6, TNF-α and cortisol (at 8:00 and 24:00) levels would be. Plasma IL-6, TNF-α and cortisol (at 8:00 and 24:00) levels were significantly higher in the severe group than those in the mild and moderate groups (P<0.05). The plasma IL-6, TNF-α and cortisol at (8:00 and 24:00) levels were slightly but not significantly higher in the moderate group than those in the mild group (P>0.05). Conclusion: Plasma IL-6, TNF-α and cortisol levels could reflect the severity of the disease in patients with acute brain injury and determination of which would be clinically useful. (authors)