目的　探讨病毒性脑炎患儿血清、脑脊液中白细胞介素 6 (IL 6 )、白细胞介素 8(IL 8)、肿瘤坏死因子 α(TNF α)水平的变化及其临床意义。方法　采用双抗体夹心酶联免疫法测定 30例病毒性脑炎患儿血清、脑脊液中IL 6、IL 8、TNF α水平 ,并与 15例非中枢神经系统疾病患儿进行对照。结果　血清中的IL 6、IL 8、TNF α的水平高于对照组 (P <0 .0 5 ) ;脑脊液中IL 6、IL 8、TNF α水平较对照组明显升高 (P <0 .0 1)。结论　IL 6、IL 8、TNF α不仅具有抗病毒的作用 ,而且参与了病毒性脑炎的病理过程 Objective To investigate the changes of interleukin 6 (IL 6), interleukin 8 (IL 8) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF α) levels in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of children with viral encephalitis and their clinical significance. Methods The levels of IL 6, IL 8 and TNF α in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 30 children with viral encephalitis were determined by double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and compared with 15 children with non-central nervous system diseases. Results The levels of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α in serum were significantly higher than those in control group (P <0.05). The levels of IL 6, IL 8 and TNFα in cerebrospinal fluid were significantly higher than those in control group 1). Conclusion IL 6, IL 8 and TNF α are not only antiviral but also involved in the pathogenesis of viral encephalitis