Tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-6 in critical illness polyneuromyopathy.

Critical illness polyneuromyopathy (CIPN) occurs in critically ill patients on artificial respiration. The pathophysiology of this disease is unknown. Because of the strong association with sepsis, the levels of cytokines, TNF and IL-6 were measured several times daily in patients having CIPN and in a control group of critically ill patients without CIPN. The diagnosis of CIPN was made on clinical criteria. Patients with CIPN had no significantly elevated levels of TNF or IL-6 as compared to controls.