PURPOSE: Proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines may play a pivotal role 
in cerebral inflammation, which is implicated in the development of brain 
injury. Systemic cytokine release is mediated by the sympathetic nervous system 
and catecholamines. The aim of this study was to investigate which parameters, 
among plasma levels of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), interleukin-6 (IL-6), 
interleukin-10 (IL-10), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and the 
levels of the catecholamines, epinephrine and norepinephrine, contribute to the 
clinical outcome in acute stroke patients.
METHODS: Thirty-seven acute stroke patients (ischemic, n = 19; hemorrhagic, n = 
18) were enrolled. All of them were admitted to our hospital within 8 h after 
stroke onset. Neurological status was evaluated by a modified National Institute 
of Health Stroke Scale (mNIHSS) on admission and by a modified Rankin Scale 
(mRS) at 1 month. An mRS score of 3 or more at 1 month was considered to 
indicate poor outcome. Serum samples for the cytokine and catecholamine 
measurements were collected on admission. Plasma levels of IL-1beta, IL-6, 
IL-10, and TNF-alpha were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay 
(ELISA) method and epinephrine and norepinephrine concentrations were determined 
by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection 
(HPLC-EC).
RESULTS: In the ischemic stroke patients, poor outcome was noted in 9 (47%). 
There were no significant differences in cytokine or catecholamine 
concentrations between patients with poor and good outcomes, and there was no 
association between clinical outcome and cytokine and catecholamine 
concentrations. In the hemorrhagic stroke patients, poor outcome was noted in 10 
(56%). IL-6 and IL-10 levels were higher in patients with poor outcome. On 
logistic regression analysis, higher values of IL-6 were significantly 
associated with clinical outcome at 1 month (odds ratio [OR], 1.25; 95% 
confidence interval [CI], 1.02-1.54).
CONCLUSION: In ischemic stroke, plasma cytokines and catecholamines were not 
predictors of neurological outcome at 1 month. In hemorrhagic stroke, high 
levels of IL-6 in the early phase indicated a poor neurological outcome.