IL-6 in CSF during ventriculitis in preterm infants with posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus

Abstract

Treatment of infants with posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus by diversion of CSF is frequently complicated by bacterial ventriculitis. We report the CSF values before and during bacterial ventriculitis of four very low birth weight infants with progressive posthemorrhagic ventricular dilatation. Extremely high CSF IL-6 concentrations of between 8,000 and 61,000 pg/ml were observed and compared with values reported in the literature. IL-6 seems to be a useful marker for bacterial ventriculitis in preterm infants. The role of IL-6 monitoring in the CSF of preterm infants with posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus for early diagnosis of bacterial ventriculitis prior to clinical manifestation should be clarified by further studies.