title: The predictive prognostic values of serum TNF-α in comparison to SOFA score monitoring in critically ill patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of inflammatory markers to follow up critically ill patients is controversial. The short time frame, the need for frequent and serial measurement of biomarkers, the presence of soluble receptor and their relatively high cost are the major drawbacks. Our study's objective is to compare the prognostic values of serum TNF-α and SOFA score monitoring in critically ill patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of ninety patients were included in the study. Forty-five patients developed septic complication (sepsis group). Forty-five patients were critically ill without evidence of infectious organism (SIRS group). Patients' data include clinical status, central venous pressure, and laboratory analysis were measured. A serum level of TNF-α and SOFA score were monitored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Monitoring of TNF-α revealed significant elevation of TNF-α at 3rd and 5th days of ICU admission in both groups. Monitoring of SOFA score revealed significant elevation of SOFA scores in both groups throughout their ICU stay, particularly in nonsurvivors. Positive predictive ability of SOFA score was demonstrated in critically ill patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transient significant increase in serum levels of TNF-α were detected in septic patients. Persistent elevation of SOFA score was detected in nonsurvivor septic patients. SOFA score is an independent prognostic value in critically ill patients.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, 17 Elemam Moslem Street, Tanta 35217, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ayman Abd Al-Maksoud
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Yousef
authors.forename: Ghada Abdulmomen
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Suliman
mesh_terms: D016638:Critical Illness / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D063305:Organ Dysfunction Scores; D011379:Prognosis; D012372:ROC Curve; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha