Interferon-γ in Cerebrospinal Fluid from Patients with Viral and Bacterial Meningitis

Abstract

Interferon (IFN)-γ was analysed immunologically in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sampled in the acute phase from 27 patients (15–66 years) with viral meningitis and from 18 patients (0.5–90 years) with bacterial meningitis. Increased CSF concentrations were observed in 19/27 viral and in 13/18 bacterial cases. CSF-IFN-γ did not distinguish between viral and bacterial meningitis. Five of 8 patients with meningitis due to herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) had CSF-IFN-γ levels above the highest found in enteroviral meningitis. Thus, a markedly increased CSF-IFN-γ value in patients with suspected viral meningitis ought to indicate HSV-2 etiology. The patients with Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis (6 adults and 1 child) had significantly higher levels than the 7 children with Haemophilus influenzae meningitis. This may indicate that S. pnemoniae induces more IFN-γ secretion than H. influenzae, and/or that during meningitis, adults are more apt to react with IFN-γ production, than are children.