Clinical significance of interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy

The present study aimed to investigate the potential roles of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP) in the progression and prognosis of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). The observation group comprised 74 neonates with HIE and the control group comprised 74 healthy neonates. The serum levels of IL-6, TNF-α and Hs-CRP were measured in the patients with HIE and the normal control infants. The correlations between the variances in the levels of these inflammatory cytokines and the different clinical gradings and prognoses of the disease were analyzed. The data revealed significant upregulation of the serum levels of IL-6, TNF-α and Hs-CRP in patients with HIE. The increase in the levels of these inflammatory mediators correlated with the severity of the disease and also had a positive correlation with the prognosis of the disease. In conclusion, high levels of IL-6, TNF-α and Hs-CRP were observed in neonatal patients with HIE. Thus, these inflammatory mediators may play a role in the progression and prognosis of the disease.