Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha in patients with IgA nephropathy are closely associated with disease severity

Abstract Background Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) is considered to play an important role in the pathogenesis in IgA nephropathy (IgAN). The correlations between serum TNF-α and disease severity in patients with IgAN remain controversial. Methods Concentrations of serum TNF-α of 147 patients with IgAN and 126 healthy subjects were measured by chemiluminescence immunoassay. Correlations with clinicopathological features of patients with IgAN were evaluated. Results Serum levels of TNF-α [9.20 (7.70–10.60) pg/mL vs. 6.04 (5.11–7.23) pg/mL, P