title: Plasma cytokine levels in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.
abstract: Plasma cytokine levels were examined in 13 patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Auto-antibodies, platelet-associated immunoglobulin G, and platelet aggregating factor were detected in many of these patients and high-molecular-weight bands of von Willebrand factor multimers were reduced in 9 of 10 patients examined. Complete remission (CR) was attained in 7 of the 13 patients, but 6 died. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF), Interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-6, and soluble IL-2 receptor showed marked increases at onset and decreased at CR. The prognosis tended to be poor in patients with increased IL-6 and soluble IL-2 receptor levels. These findings suggest that immunological mechanisms, such as the activation of macrophage, are involved in the pathogenesis of TTP and are reflected in the plasma cytokine levels.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Mie University School of Medicine, Mie Ken, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wada
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kaneko
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohiwa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanigawa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tamaki
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Minami
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Deguchi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shirakawa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008262:Macrophage Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011697:Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha