Early TNF-alpha levels correlate with ischaemic stroke severity.
OBJECTIVE
The study aimed to evaluate the levels of an important proinflammatory cytokine tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum in acute stroke and to study the relation between those and the neurological stroke severity and functional disability.


METHODS
The investigations comprised 23 ischaemic stroke patients. CSF and blood samples were obtained 24 h after the onset of stroke, and stored until analysis. Patients were examined according to Scandinavian Stroke Scale (SSS) and to Barthel Index (BI).


RESULTS
The patients displayed statistically significant high levels of TNF-alpha in CSF and sera within the first 24 h of stroke. These correlated significantly with SSS and BI scores calculated within the same interval, and 1 and 2 weeks later.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest the involvement of TNF-alpha in mechanisms of early stroke-induced inflammation and a predictive value of the initial TNF-alpha levels for the outcome of stroke.
Zaremba
J
J
Department of Clinical Neuroimmunology, University School of Medicine, Poznan, Poland.
Losy
J
J
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000473:pathology*; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020521:Stroke / Q000473:pathology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis*
D015415:Biomarkers; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha