Background: The immune system has been a hotspot for epilepsy researchers during the past decade. The outcome of this is an ever-increasing body of knowledge about the role of several immunological variables in the development of epilepsy and seizures epileptogenesis.

Methods: We carried out this case control study in Neurology clinic and Neurology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University Hospitals on 224 persons categorized into two groups: 112 epileptic and 112 control. Comprehensive evaluations were conducted on all patients, including electroencephalograms, brain MRIs, standard laboratory tests, as well as serum interleukin 6 levels that were assessed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results:Patients with epilepsy had a significantly elevated serum IL-6 level compared to the control group (p<0.001). Also, statistically significant difference was detected between drug responsive and drug non-responsive patients as regard IL-6; as mean level of IL-6 was higher among drug non-responsive patients (P=0.02), IL-6 level was significantly higher among generalized tonic-colonic seizures (P=0.02). Also, median level of IL-6 was significantly higher among patients who received polytherapy compared with patients on monotherapy (P=0.001).Median IL-6 level was significantly higher among patients who had generalized epileptiform activity (P=0.01) compared with those who had partial onset seizures.

Conclusion: The correlation between serum IL-6 levels and epilepsy was statistically significant. Epileptic seizures could induce the production of IL-6 and high concentration of IL-6 could be an obvious neurotoxic and pro convulsion factor.