Central nervous system (CNS) ischaemia is associated with an acute inflamma
tory response which appears to potentiate CNS injury, especially following
reperfusion. This response includes the release of inflammatory mediators c
alled cytokines including IL-1 and TNF-alpha, which triggers the production
of additional cytokines including IL-6 and activates leukocytes which infi
ltrate into the CNS. Increased expression of cytokines has been demonstrate
d to occur in the first few hours after CNS ischaemia. Preliminary clinical
studies suggest that plasma levels of IL-6 are correlated with functional
recovery while brain levels of cytokines have been demonstrated to increase
following experimental ischaemia. Although there are no current clinical '
anti-cytokine' treatment studies for stroke, experimental studies modulatin
g, IL-1 and TNF-alpha have shown neuroprotection.