Value of T Lymphocyte Subsets,IL-17 and IL-12 in Evaluating the Prognosis of Children with Viral Encephalitis

ZHANG Shuai; WANG Zhen; XU Zhe

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1004-437X.2025.03.016

Abstract：Objective To explore the application and clinical value of T lymphocyte subsets,interleukin-17(IL-17)and interleukin-12(IL-12)in children with viral encephalitis(VE).Methods A total of 96 children with VE(VE group)admitted to Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University from January 2019 to January 2022 and 96 healthy children during the same period were selected.After the end of treatment,children with VE were divided into good prognosis(grade 4-5)and poor prognosis(grade 1-3)according to Glasgow outcome scale(GOS).The peripheral blood samples were collected among all children,and T lymphocyte subsets,IL-17 and IL-12 were detected,and the detection results were compared.The evaluated value of the detection results on prognosis in children with VE was analyzed by receiver characteristic operating(ROC)curve and area under curve(AUC).Results Compared with control group,the CD3+,CD4+and CD4+/CD8+ratio in VE group were significantly decreased(P＜0.05),while the levels of CD8+,IL-17 and IL-12 were significantly increased(P＜0.05).In VE group,IL-17 and IL-12 were positively correlated with CD3+(r=-0.517,-0.531,P＜0.05),CD4+(r=-0.572,-0.568,P＜0.05)and CD4+/CD8+ratio(r=-0.631,-0.608,P＜0.05),and were negatively correlated with CD8+(r=0.508,0.537,P＜0.05).In VE group,the CD3+,CD4+and CD4+/CD8+ratio were significantly declined in patients with poor prognosis compared with those in patients with good prognosis(P＜0.05),while the levels of IL-17 and IL-12 were significantly risen(P＜0.05),but there was no statistically significant difference in CD8+level(P＞0.05).ROC curve analysis showed that the AUC of CD3+,CD4+/CD8+ratio,IL-17,IL-12 and the combination of the four in evaluating poor prognosis of VE were 0.660,0.741,0.758,0.797 and 0.886,and the combination of the four had the highest evaluated efficiency,and its diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 90.00％and 70.15％.Conclusion T lymphocyte imbalance and elevated levels of IL-17 and IL-12 are present in children with VE,and T lymphocyte subsets are correlated with IL-17 and IL-12 levels.The combination of CD3+,CD4+/CD8+ratio,IL-17 and IL-12 can be used to evaluate prognosis.