Experimental studies suggest that the immuno-inflammatory system including activation of cytokines is important in the cascade leading to hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. The purpose was to study the content of Interleukin(IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8. IL-10 and granulocyte-monocyte colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in asphyxiated and control infants. 20 infants fullfilled the criteria of birth asphyxia(intrapartum distress, ventilation >3min, 5 min Apgar ≤6 or pH<7.1/BE<10 and all developed HIE). CSF was obtained by spinal taps within 72 h of delivery in all infants. The concentration of IL-6 (detection limit: 25 pg/ml)was higher (p=0.001) in asphyxiated(250, 35-543; median,IQR) than in control (0. 0-18) infants. There was also a correspondence between IL-6 and the degree of HIE, and between IL-6 and outcome. The content of IL-8(d1:10 pg/ml) was 170 (70-1440) in the asphyxia and 10 (0-30) in the control group. There was an association between IL-8 and degree of HIE. The levels of IL-10, GM-CSF and IL-1β did not differ between groups. In conclusion, the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8 were markedly elevated in CSF of asphyxiated infants whereas IL-10, GM-CSF and IL-1β were not affected at this time-point.