Serum and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid tumor necrosis factor-alpha in active pulmonary tuberculosis

Abstract

Purpose:Mycobacterium tuberculosis and its components have been shown to stimulate mononuclear phagocytes in vitro to release interleukin-1beta (IL-1ß ), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-$alpha$). TNF-$alpha$ levels both in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid were evaluated in active and inactive pulmonar tuberculosis (TB) as a diagnostic tool. Serum and BAL fluid levels of TNF-$alpha$ were determined in 32 patients with 19 active and 13 with inactive pulmonary TB. Methods:TNF-$alpha$ concentrations were measured by IMMULATE hormone autoanalyzer via chemiluminescent enzyme immunometric assay. Results:Serum TNF-$alpha$ concentration was found significantly higher than the healthy controls in both groups (p