Plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha, soluble TNF receptor-1 and -2 are elevated in acute ischemic stroke patients with sleep apnea

Background: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) is a pro-inflammatory and potentially injury-promoting cytokine, which is activated with its soluble receptors TNF receptor (TNFR)-1 (p55) and -2 (p75) in response to ischemic stroke. Here, we were interested whether sleep apnea (SA), which is found in ˜50% of acute stroke patients (pts), enhances the immune response of TNF-a, p55 and p75 after stroke. Methods: Ten consecutive pts with acute ischemic stroke were prospectively included. After emergency exams and diffusion-/perfusion-weighted MR imaging, SA diagnostics were performed in the following night using a CP…