Aims Secondary brain damage after traumatic brain injury (TBI) involves neuro-inflammatory mechanisms that are mainly dependent on the intracerebral production of cytokines. Interleukin 6 (IL-6) may have a role both in the pathogenesis of neuronal damage and in the recovery mechanisms of injured neurons through the modulation of nerve growth factor (NGF) biosynthesis. However, the relationship between IL-6 and NGF expression and the severity and outcome of TBI remains controversial. We have conducted a prospective observational clinical study to determine whether the concentration of IL-6 and NGF in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of children with TBI correlates with the severity of the injury and neurologic outcome of patients.

Methods CSF samples were collected from 29 children at 2 (Time T1) and 48 hours (Time T2) after severe TBI, and from 31 matched controls. TBI severity was evaluated by Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and neurologic outcome by Glasgow Outcome Score (GOS). CSF concentrations of IL-6 and NGF were measured by immunoenzymatic assays.

Results Early NGF concentrations (T1) correlated significantly with head injury severity, whereas no correlation was found between GCS and IL-6. Furthermore, IL-6 and NGF upregulation after injury was associated with better neurologic outcomes.

Conclusions Based on these findings, we showed that NGF expression is a useful marker of brain damage following severe TBI. Moreover, the early upregulation of both IL-6 and NGF correlates with a favourable neurologic outcome and may reflect an endogenous attempt at neuroprotection against biochemical and molecular cascades triggered by traumatic insult.