title: Evaluation of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha as immunological markers of clinical outcome in cutaneous leishmaniasis.
abstract: To evaluate if IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha levels could be used as markers of therapeutic response in cutaneous leishmaniasis, 54 patients with history of one ulcerated cutaneous lesion, with up to 30 days onset, were enrolled in the study. IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha were measured by ELISA in lymphocyte cultures supernatant before and 60 days after initiating therapy. Cure was considered to be a complete healing of lesion 60 days after treatment. IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha levels were similar in both groups of patients before therapy. There was a tendency to increase IFN-gamma levels in patients that were cured in 60 days, however the values did not reach statistical significance. In both groups of patients, TNF-alpha levels were similar before therapy and fell significantly after treatment, irrespective of cure or maintenance of active lesion.
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Imunologia, Hospital Universitário Prof. Edgar Santos, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Argemiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Oliveira
authors.forename: Paulo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.forename: Olívia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bacellar
authors.forename: Lay Har
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Roque P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: Edgar M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Carvalho
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000276:immunology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma