Abstract
Pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and nitric oxide (NO) are believed to play an important role in the severity of chronic disease. When evaluated in 71 patients who were seropositive for Trypanosoma cruzi and 50 apparently healthy controls, the mean (S.D.) serum concentrations of both TNF [7.65 (1.32) nu. 4.24 (1.53) ng/ml; P<0.001] and NO [114 (40) nu. 74 (21) microM; P<0.0001] were found to be significantly higher in the patients than in the controls. In addition, patients with chronic, symptomatic disease affecting their hearts--eight with dilated cardiomyopathy [8.82 (1.47) ng TNF/ml; 142 (45) microM NO] and 17 others with electrocardiographic alterations [8.37 (1.26) ng TNF/ml; 134 (53) microM NO]--had significantly higher serum concentrations of these cytokines than 34 patients who were in the asymptomatic, indeterminate phase of the disease [6.38 (1.35) ng TNF/ml; 99 (28) microM NO]. In those infected with T. cruzi, it therefore appears that serum concentrations of TNF and NO correlate with disease severity, indicating that these cytokines play some role in the pathogenesis of chronic Chagas disease.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.