Plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in patients with panic disorder: Effect of alprazolam therapy

Plasma concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were measured in 10 outpatients with panic disorder, twice (at a 48-h interval) before and twice on days 30-32 of treatment with alprazolam (2-2.5 mg/day), and twice in 10 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. TNF-α concentrations did not differ in patients and control subjects, either before therapy or at days 30-32 of therapy. In five patients before therapy, and in three of them after therapy, TNF-α values were higher than the maximal concentrations of the cytokine in controls. Copyright (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.