Intracerebral Hemorrhage Triggers Interleukin-6 and Interleukin-10 Release in Blood

            Recently cytokine levels and its relationship to stroke has been an area of interest for researchers.  “The goal for this study was to determine the serum level of interleukin-6, interleukin-10, and interleukin 13 in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage and to correlate cytokine concentrations with stroke severity.” (Dziedzic, et.al)  From previous studies, it has shown that systemic anti-inflammatory response may be induced by acute brain injuries.  To test their hypothesis, researchers tested 30 patients (17 men, 13 women) that had supratentorial, intraparenchymal cerebral hemorrhage.  In addition, researchers also contained a control group with 16 patients.  For this study patients with cardiac, renal, hepatic, autoimmune, or cancerous diseases were excluded.  As we mentioned in class, it is important to remove these patients because it will minimize factors influencing cytokine levels. 

            Under the “subjects and methods” portion of this article, it discusses the various tests the patients underwent.  Within 24 hours after stroke, all patients were required to have a brain CT scan.  “To estimate the magnitude of brain injury, they used 2 parameters: volume of hematoma and mass effect.” (Dziedzic, et.al)  As for neurological deficit, researchers used the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS).  “The GCS is a neurological scale that aims to give a reliable, objective way of recording the conscious state of a person for initial as well as subsequent assessment.” (Wikipedia)  The blood of both patients and controls were drawn on the second day at 10AM via the antecubital vein.  I thought it was a good idea that both groups had their blood tested at the same time and day, because it allows for more accurate results that can be compared. 

            From this study, researchers recognized that IL-6 and IL-10 levels were higher in patients with intraparenchymal hemorrhage than the control group.  Even though the mechanism of how these increased cytokines are released is unknown, we can see that IL-6 and IL-10 levels are correlated with brain damage.  In addition, based off this article, we can see that elevated concentrations of anti-inflammatory cytokines may increase the patient’s risk for an infection.     

Dziedzic, Tomasz, Stanislaw Bartus, Aleksandra Klimkowicz, Maciej Motyl, Agnieszka Slowik, and Andrzej Szczudlik. "Intracerebral Hemorrhage Triggers Interleukin-6 and Interleukin-10 Release in Blood." (n.d.): n. pag. Stroke, 2012. Web. <http://stroke.ahajournals.org/content/33/9/2334.full.pdf+html>.

"Glasgow Coma Scale." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 10 Mar. 2013. Web. 13 Oct. 2013. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glasgow_Coma_Scale>.