Plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in patients with panic disorder: effect of alprazolam therapy

Abstract

Plasma concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were measured in 10 outpatients with panic disorder, twice (at a 48-h interval) before and twice on days 30–32 of treatment with alprazolam (2–2.5 mg/day), and twice in 10 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. TNF-α concentrations did not differ in patients and control subjects, either before therapy or at days 30–32 of therapy. In five patients before therapy, and in three of them after therapy, TNF-α values were higher than the maximal concentrations of the cytokine in controls.