Tumor necrosis factor alpha as a marker of systemic and local inflammation in "healthy" smokers.

BACKGROUND: Tobacco smoking induces a local and systemic inflammatory reaction and also a decline in pulmonary function. There are some novel noninvasive methods to measure the degree of inflammatory bronchial reaction, including the exhaled breath condensate (EBC) in which several inflammatory markers can be measured, including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). There is a clear clinical need to develop methods that allow early detection of smokers at risk of losing pulmonary function. OBJECTIVES: THE AIMS OF THE PRESENT STUDY ARE: 1) to show that smokers show higher levels of TNF-alpha both in serum and EBC; 2) to analyze the possible influence of gender, age, and weight on this parameter; and 3) to determine a possible association between smoking and pulmonary function parameters and TNF-alpha levels. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We have prospectively analyzed two cohorts of smokers and non-smokers subjects without any chronic or acute disease (within eight weeks of study initiation). We have performed pulmonary function tests with bronchodilators and also collected EBC and blood samples before smoking cessation. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 11.0 for Windows Statistical Package. RESULTS: The study has enrolled 17 patients (8 smokers), 50% of whom were females. Mean age was 38.59 years old (standard deviation, 7.4). The mean number of cigarettes smoked in the smoker group was 26.14 (11.29) cigarettes/day and the mean age when tobacco first began was 15.14 (2.04) years. We have not been able to show any significant differences in TNF-alpha levels according to age or weight. For the whole series we have not found any significant influence of gender in TNF-alpha levels, but after dividing the series in smokers and nonsmokers, we have shown higher levels of TNF-alpha in serum (5.59 [0.26] pg/mL vs 5.56 [0.37] pg/mL; nonsignificant [NS]) and EBC (4.94 [0.41] pg/mL vs 4.22 [0.36] pg/mL; p = 0.031) in male smokers. On the other hand, nonsmoking females showed slightly higher TNF-alpha levels in serum (5.70 [0.50] pg/mL vs 5.42 [0.29] pg/mL; NS) and EBC (4.54 [0.92] vs 4.11 [0.41 pg/mL]; NS). Smokers had higher TNF-alpha levels in EBC (4.46 [0.58] pg/mL vs 4.34 [0.62] pg/mL; NS), while serum TNF-alpha levels were slightly higher in nonsmokers (5.52 [0.56] pg/mL vs 5.50 [0.27] pg/mL; NS). We have not demonstrated any association between tobacco consumption and TNF-alpha levels. We have not shown any significant relation between pulmonary function and the studied parameters, with only a modest association between forced expiratory volume at one second and forced vital capacity and TNF-alpha levels in EBC. CONCLUSION: Smokers show higher TNF-alpha levels in EBC. Among smokers, males show higher levels of TNF in serum and EBC. We have not confirmed any significant influence of age or weight on TNF-alpha levels. These levels do not seem to be influenced either by the amount of tobacco or the time since habit began. We have shown a modest relation between pulmonary function and TNF-alpha levels in EBC.

[Etanercept as a possible trigger of fatal pulmonary fibrosis]. / Fibrosis pulmonar mortal, con etanercept como posible desencadenante.

Pulmonary fibrosis can be caused by external agents, including certain drugs. For some time now, tumor necrosis factor antagonists such as etanercept have been used to treat certain autoimmune diseases. Fibrosis caused by medication responds to withdrawal of the drug and treatment with corticosteroids. Very rarely, fibrosis is irreversible. We present the case of a patient who developed pulmonary fibrosis after initiating treatment with etanercept. The clinical course was fulminant despite withdrawal of the drug and high doses of corticosteroids.

Fibrosis pulmonar mortal, con etanercept como posible desencadenante / Etanercept as a possible trigger of fatal pulmonary fibrosis

La fibrosis pulmonar es una enfermedad que puede estar causada por agentes externos como determinados fármacos. Desde hace un tiempo se utilizan fármacos antagonistas del factor de necrosis tumoral (TNF) para ciertas enfermedades autoinmunitarias, siendo un ejemplo de estos fármacos el etanercept. Las fibrosis secundarias a medicamentos se caracterizan por la respuesta a la retirada del fármaco y a esteroides. En muy raras ocasiones se produce una fibrosis irreversible. Presentamos el caso de un paciente que desarrolló una fibrosis pulmonar tras iniciar tratamiento con etanercept y que tuvo un curso clínico nefasto a pesar de la retirada del anti-TNF y dosis altas de esteroides

Pulmonary fibrosis can be caused by external agents, including certain drugs. For some time now, tumor necrosis factor antagonists such as etanercept have been used to treat certain autoimmune diseases. Fibrosis caused by medication responds to withdrawal of the drug and treatment with corticosteroids. Very rarely, fibrosis is irreversible. We present the case of a patient who developed pulmonary fibrosis after initiating treatment with etanercept. The clinical course was fulminant despite withdrawal of the drug and high doses of corticosteroids (AU)