Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha

Overview:

Tumor necrosis factor alpha is a cytokine released by immune cells that drives many features of inflammation, including fever and the recruitment of other immune cells. It has a central role in rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and psoriasis, which is why several widely used medications work by blocking it. Measuring it directly is uncommon in routine practice: levels are low, change quickly, and are sensitive to how the sample is handled, and more stable markers such as CRP usually answer the same clinical question. Its use is mainly in specialist assessment and research settings.

Categories:

Inflammation

Biomarkers:

1 biomarker