IDIOPATHIC EDEMA WITH INCREASED CYTOKINE PRODUCTION - A PATHOGENETIC LINK

We describe four patients with idiopathic oedema and elevated cytokine s. All patients shared increased serum concentrations of soluble inter leukin-2 receptors (sIL-2R). In three patients tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-2 (IL- 2) were transiently elevated. There was no evidence for an underlying disease. Based on experimental and clinical data it is hypothesized th at oedema formation in our patients is the consequence of cytokine ind uced alteration of endothelial cells.