Relationships of the expression levels of inflammatory factors in serum and cytokines in cerebrospinal fluid with the degree of postoperative nerve injury and prognosis in patients with Glioma

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-6, CRP) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytokine levels (AVP, OT, β-EP) with the severity of postoperative neurological injury and prognosis in patients with glioma.

Methodology: In this retrospective study, 80 patients with glioma who underwent surgery (study group) and 80 non-glioma controls who underwent CSF sampling (control group) were enrolled from Baoding No.1 Hospital between May 2023 and December 2024. Serum inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-6, CRP) and CSF cytokines (AVP, OT, β-EP) were measured in both groups. Neurological impairment was assessed using the NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Comparative analyses were performed between groups and across different pathological stages and neurological injury severities. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify risk factors affecting 3-year survival.

Results: The study group showed significantly elevated levels of serum TNF-α, IL-6, CRP and CSF AVP, OT, β-EP compared to controls (p < 0.01). These markers increased with disease severity and higher pathological stage (III–IV vs. I–II, p < 0.01). Multivariate analysis identified TNF-α, IL-6, AVP, β-EP, pathological stage, degree of neurological injury, and extent of resection as independent risk factors for three years survival (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Elevated levels of serum inflammatory markers and CSF cytokines are associated with more severe neurological injury and worse prognosis in glioma patients. TNF-α, IL-6, AVP, and β-EP are independent risk factors for poor survival outcomes.