Franciotta D M, Melzi d'Eril G L, Bono G, Brustia R, Ruberto G, Pagani I
Neuro-AIDS Unit, IRCCS C. Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy.
Funct Neurol. 1992 Jan-Feb;7(1):35-8.
We used a sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique to measure tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) levels in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from 30 patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and from 10 normal controls. We found detectable levels of TNF alpha in 19 of 30 CSF and in 17 of 30 serum samples. The values of TNF alpha ranged between 20-90 pg/ml. All the patients had overt AIDS. More elevated TNF alpha levels in CSF correlate with focal damage within the central nervous system (p less than 0.01). Our results suggest that an intrathecal production of TNF alpha may occur during active inflammation in course of AIDS.
