Proinflammatory cytokines in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of CIDP patients.

Introduction: Little is known about the role of cytokines in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP). Interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-15 are the major growth and differentiation factors for Th-1 cells and IL-17 is a marker of Th-17 cell expansion and activation, a high proinflammatory new subset of T cells that induce severe autoimmunity.

Patients And Methods: We measured by enzyme-like immunosorbent assay serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of IL-15, IL-12, and IL-17 in 24 patients with CIDP and 12 patients with other non-inflammatory neurological disorders and serum levels in 16 healthy subjects.