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Elevated serum levels of tumor necrosis factor‐α in Guillain‐Barré syndrome
Author(s) -
Sharief M. K.,
McLean B.,
Thompson E. J.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
annals of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.764
H-Index - 296
eISSN - 1531-8249
pISSN - 0364-5134
DOI - 10.1002/ana.410330606
Subject(s) - guillain barre syndrome , pathogenesis , medicine , cerebrospinal fluid , tumor necrosis factor alpha , immunology , pathology , necrosis
Activated T lymphocytes and macrophages play a putative role in the pathogenesis of Guillian‐Barré syndrome. Both cell types secrete tumor necrosis factor‐α, a cytokine that has well‐recognized toxi effects on myelin, Schwann cells, and endothelial cells. We determined serum and cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of tumor necrosis factor α in 26 patients with Guillain‐Barré syndrome, 27 patients with other polyneuropathies, 30 patients with neurological diseases of the central nervous system, and 14 helthy control subjects. Markedly increased serum levels were detected in 14 patients(54%) with Guillian‐Barré syndrome and to a significantly lesser extent, in patients with other polyneuropathies (26%) and in neurological control subjects(23%). Tumor necrosis factor‐α was not detected in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with Guillain‐Barré syndrome or other polyneuropathies. Increased serum concentrations in patients with Guillain‐Barré syndrome or other polyneuropathies. Increased serum concentrations in patients with Guillain‐Barré syndrome correlated directly with disease severity and these concentrations returned to normal in parallel with clinical recovery. These findings emphasize the complexity of the immune response in patients with Guillain‐Barré syndrome and suggest that tumor necrosis factor‐αL may be important in the pathogenesis of peripheral demylination in this disorder.