Soluble Receptors for Tumor Necrosis Factor as Markers of Disease Activity in Visceral Leishmaniasis

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Abstract
Serum concentrations of soluble receptors for tumor necrosis factor (sTNFRs) were measured before and after antimony therapy in 25 Sudanese patients with active visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Both sTNFR types I and II were significantly elevated in patients with VL compared with healthy controls from the same region and from the Netherlands (P < .01). In all 23 patients who initially responded to therapy, both sTNFR types decreased sharply, reaching and remaining at levels similar to those found in normal controls; 2 relapsed after an initial response to therapy, and their sTNFR concentrations had increased at the time ofrelapse. The 2 patients who did not respond to therapy had persistently elevated sTNFR levels, Tumor necrosis factor was detectable in only 16% of patients with VL. Hence, the serum concentrations of sTNFRs may be useful for monitoring therapeutic efficacy in patients with VL.

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