Role of Tumour necrosis factor alpha in assessment of severity of Bronchiectasis

<bold>Background:</bold> Tumour Necrosis Factor α is a polypeptide cytokine produced by monocytes and macrophages which acts as a multipotent modulator of immune response. Production of TNF α is stimulated by various infections and tissue injury. Our study primarily aims to evaluate TNF α levels and its correlation with the severity of bronchiectasis. <bold>Objectives:</bold> To measure the serum TNF α levels in patients with bronchiectasis To find association between the serum TNF α levels and severity of bronchiectasis. <bold>Methods:</bold> The study was a Hospital based cross sectional study.A detailed clinical history and physical examination was carried out in study subjects. Chest X-ray and HRCT thorax were done to diagnose Bronchiectasis. The patients were subjected to bacterial sputum culture and sensitivity, spirometry and their blood samples was collected for serum TNF α analysis. These data were used for associating clinico-radiological and functional severity of bronchiectasis with TNF α by using FACED and BSI severity scores. <bold>Results:</bold> Serum TNF α was increased in bronchiectasis especially in patients with acute exacerbations and pseudomonas species colonization. The patients with severe BSI and FACED scores had a statistically significant raise in serum TNF α <fig><object-id>erj;64/suppl_68/PA3323/F1</object-id><object-id>F1</object-id><object-id>F1</object-id><graphic></graphic></fig> <bold>Conclusion:</bold> This study propounds an impeccable clinical data by measuring serum TNF α levels in patients with bronchiectasis and its significance by evaluating severity of the disease, outcome and prognosis.