OBJECTIVEVascular endothelial cell injury contributes to the pathogenesis of viral encephalitis. This study was designed to investigate the roles of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1(VCAM-1) in cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) in the pathogenesis of viral encephalitis and in the evaluation of the severity and the prognosis of viral encephalitis in children.

METHODSCSF VEGF and VCAM-1 levels were measured using ELISA in 65 children with viral encephalitis and 20 age-matched controls (10 cases of epilepsy and 10 cases of congenital abnormality).

RESULTSCSF levels of VEGF and VCAM-1 in the viral encephalitis group in the acute phase were significantly elevated compared with those in the congenital abnormality (P<0.01) and the epilepsy groups (P<0.05). CSF levels of VEGF and VCAM-1 in the viral encephalitis group in the recovery phase decreased significantly and were similar to the levels of the epilepsy group, but remained higher than those in the congenital abnormality group (P<0.05). There was a positive correlation between CSF levels of VEGF and VCAM-1 in the viral encephalitis group in the acute and recovery phases. CSF levels of VEGF and VCAM-1 were positively correlated to CSF protein contents and the degree of MRI abnormality in the viral encephalitis group.

CONCLUSIONSVEGF and VCAM-1 may participate in the pathogenesis of viral encephalitis. Detection of the two parameters may be helpful to the evaluation of the severity and prognosis of viral encephalitis.