VALUE OF THE DETERMINATION OF TNF-ALPHA IN THE PLASMA OF PATIENTS WITH NON-HODGKINS-LYMPHOMA

The present report describes the value of the plasma determination of TNF-alpha, at diagnosis, in 43 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (N HL), related to their clinical presentation and the new International Prognosis Index (IPI). We also compare the levels of TNF-alpha with th ose of LDH, beta-2-microglobulin (beta-2-m), and ferritin. At diagnosi s, the mean values of the quotients between the marker values and the maximum value of normal (ratio:r-) are placed 7 times higher than norm al for r-TNF-alpha, whereas those of r-beta-2-m and r-LDH are 2,4 and 1,4 times more respectively. We found a relationship between the value of r-TNF-alpha and the ECOG, Ann Arbor stage, the number of affected extranodal sites, and between the values of r-beta-2-m with r-LDH. The best correlation was obtained between the values of r-TNF-alpha and r -beta-2-m and IPI, however r-TNF-alpha best stratify the four risk gro ups in this prognosis index.