INDUCTION OF TNF-ALPHA IN PATIENTS WITH MYELODYSPLASTIC SYNDROMES UNDERGOING TREATMENT WITH INTERLEUKIN-3

The study was undertaken to analyse whether the presence or the induct ion of TNF-alpha, a potent inhibitor of haemopoiesis, might affect the clinical response to treatment with interleukin-3 in patients with my elodysplastic syndromes. A total of 15 patients were treated with IL-3 . Baseline serum TNF-alpha levels were elevated in MDS patients (14.2/-2.4 pg/ml) compared to healthy controls (9.1+/-1.1 pg/ml). During IL -3 therapy TNF-alpha levels remained unchanged in 3/14 patients in who m platelet counts increased. while in non-responders TNF-alpha levels increased 1.9-fold (P<0.025). These findings indicate that TNF-alpha n ot only is induced during IL-3 therapy in MDS patients but that this e levation might be associated with a poor platelet response to therapy.