Evaluation of IL-8 level in cerebrospinal fluid in acute bacterial meningitis in adults

Background: Interleukin 8 increases in various types of meningitis, specifically acute bacterial meningitis inflammation, and it is important in the distinction between types of meningitis. The present paper aims at evaluation of the level of interleukin 8 in cerebrospinal fluid in acute adult bacterial meningitis. Methods: All adult patients’ with diagnosis of suspected meningitis with symptoms of fever, headache, neck stiffness, and consciousness disorder. Lumbar puncture was taken in between the third and fourth vertebra by a specialist physician for all patients suspected with meningitis. To determine the level of consciousness, the GCS of the patients was determined and the cerebrospinal fluid was cultured and sent to the laboratory for the analyses of cell count, diffraction, CSF fluid glucose, CSF fluid protein, LDH, or lactate dehydrogenase, and the level of interleukin 8. Results: The mean of IL-8 protein was 296.17±48.57Pg/ml in patients with aseptic meningitis and 1088.96±526.55Pg/ml in the group of patients with septic meningitis. There was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of the amount of interleukin 8 (p = 0.009). Cutoff was 297.6 Pg/ml for the detection of positive bacterial meningitis with a sensitivity of 92% and the specificity of 83.1% was 297.6 pg/ml. Conclusion: Interleukin 8 has a high sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis from aseptic meningitis, and along with the measurement of cerebrospinal fluid protein, it can be a good criterion for differentiation of bacterial from aseptic meningitis.