Abstract: Objective To evaluate the influence of propofol and isoflurane on inflammation in elderly patients with meningioma.Methods Sixty-five patients of categorized as Ⅰ or Ⅱ of American Society of Anaesthesiology(ASA)category and undergoing meningioma surgery were divided randomly into a propofol group and an isoflurane group.The former group was given intravenous anesthesia with target controlled infusion of propofol 3-6 μg/mL,and the latter group received continuous inhalation anesthesia with isoflurane of 1%-2%.The levels of intercellular adhesion molecule 1(ICAM-1),interleukin 1(IL-1),and tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α)were detected before the anesthesia and 0,24,and 48 hours after the operation.Results The serum levels of ICAM-1,IL-1,and TNF-α were significantly higher in isoflurane group than those in propofol group at 24 and 48 hours after the operation(all P<0.05).The serum levels of ICAM-1,IL-1,and TNF-α were significantly increased at 24 and 48 hours after the operation compared with those before the anesthesia in both groups(all P<0.001).Conclusion Propofol is better than isoflurane in inhibiting inflammatory reaction among elderly patients with meningioma.