Serum tumour necrosis factor-α and soluble tumour necrosis factor receptors levels in patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome

Objectives – To estimate the serum concentrations of Tumour Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF‐α) and soluble TNF receptors (s TNF‐RI and TNF‐RII) in patients with Guillain–Barre syndrome (GBS), before and after treatment. Material and methods – The serum TNF‐α and the soluble TNF receptors concentrations were measured by a sandwich enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 47 patients with GBS before and after the treatment – IVI therapy (n = 26); Plasma Exchange (n = 21). Results – At the time of admission, the serum TNF‐α concentrations were elevated (32.5–182.5 pg/ml) in 41/47 GBS patients (87.2%). Following the treatment (IVIG or PE), there was a significant decrease in the serum TNF‐α concentrations (8.5–58.5 pg/ml) in these 41 GBS patients. The soluble TNF receptors, particularly sTNF‐RII concentrations were significantly increased in GBS patients treated by IVIG therapy. Conclusions – The results of this indicated that (a) Elevated serum concentrations of TNF‐α showed a positive correlation with the disease severity in patients with GBS. (b) The decrease in the serum TNF‐α and increase in the serum soluble TNF receptors, particularly sTNF‐RII showed a positive correlation with the neurological recovery in GBB patients following treatment.