Serum tumor necrosis factor alpha increased during remission with Etanercept

Abstract

Results TNF-a was measurable in 39 serum samples and in all SF samples. Only 19% of serum samples had greater TNF-a levels than controls. The most elevated levels of serum TNF-a were found in patients during clinical remission with Etanercept. In one patient with seropositive polyarticular disease, Etanercept administration for 6 months resulted in important elevation of serum TNF-a, regardless of clinical improvement. SF levels were significantly higher than simultaneously serum levels (p=0.02), with no significant differences among oligoarticular and polyarticular forms of JIA. We found no correlation of serum TNF-a values with disease activity and severity. In our patients the circulating TNF-a values were significantly correlated only with hemoglobin levels (r=-0.30; p=0.04) in the oligoarticular group and with serum Immunoglobulin G (r=0.70; p<0.01) in the systemic group.