Abstract: Objective To explore the significance of sCD40,sCD40L and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) levels in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of children with EV71 encephalitis. Methods The patients were divided mild group, serious group (subdivided into severe group and critical group) according to their clinical manifestations, and a control group was set up. The concentrations of sCD40,sCD40L and VCAM-1 in serum and CSF of each case were detected by using double antibody sandwich ELISA. Results The serum and CSF concentrations of sCD40,sCD40L and VCAM-1 in acute phase in serious group were significantly higher than those in mild group and control group, the difference was statistical significant (P0.01). The differences in serum and CSF concentrations of sCD40,sCD40L and VCAM-1 between mild group and control group had no statistical significance. The serum and CSF concentrations of sCD40,sCD40L and VCAM-1 in critical group were higher than those in severe group, the difference was statistical significant (P0.05). The serum and CSF concentrations of sCD40,sCD40L and VCAM-1 in acute phase were significantly higher than those in convalescence phase in serious group (P0.01). There were positive correlations between serum and CSF concentrations of sCD40,sCD40L and VCAM-1 in serious group. Conclusion sCD40,sCD40L and VCAM-1 might participate in the pathogenesis of EV71 encephalitis. Detection of these parameters could be helpful in the evaluation of the severity and prognosis of EV71 encephalitis.