THE PRESENCE OF TUMOR-NECROSIS-FACTOR IN CSF AND PLASMA AFTER SEVERE HEAD-INJURY

In a cohort of victims of traumatic brain injury, 18 out of 50 patient s had a plasma tumour necrosis factor (TNF) concentration above 2 pg/m l within 24 h ofinjury (mean 12.19, SD 45.96 pg/ml). Twenty-six had CS F samples available of which 17 demonstrated TNF concentrations above 1 pg/ml (mean 3.98, SD 3.61 pg/ml). We conclude that traumatized brain parenchyma is a significant source of TNF activity and implicate the cytokine in cellular metabolic derangements following head injury.