Abstract:
Objective
To analyze and compare the expression level of interleukin-6(IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α) in the serum of children with cerebral palsy at different ages.
Methods
A total of 50 children with cerebral palsy were chosen as the observation group, who were hospitalized for treatment in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical College from Oct. 2014 to Aug. 2015. They were divided into two groups according to age: small-age observation group(3 to 12 months) and older-age observation group(13 to 36 months), with 25 children in each. Another 30 normal-health children were selected as the control group, and they were divided into two groups according to age: small-age control group and older-age control group, with 15 children in each. The peripheral venous blood was taken, and the IL-6 and TNF-α level was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results
The IL-6 level and TNF-α level were respectively (6.53±1.44)ng/L, (6.42±1.34)ng/L, (398.22±92.07)ng/L and (390.8±93.57)ng/L in the small-age and older-age observation groups, all being higher than the control groups, which were (4.87±1.42)ng/L,(4.57±1.48)ng/L, (268.46±87.87)ng/L and (233.52±71.78)ng/L, and there was statistical difference(P<0.05).There was no statistical difference in the IL-6 and TNF-α level between different ages in the observation groups or in the control groups(P>0.05).
Conclusion
IL-6 and TNF-α exist persistently in the serum of children with cerebral palsy, which aggravates the brain damage; besides, the level of IL-6 and TNF-α won't decrease with increase of age. Therefore, intervention treatment should be performed as early as possible, which can effectively reduce the influence of inflammatory factor on brain tissues.

Key words: Cerebral palsy, IL-6, TNF-α, Immune factor, Child