High Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Levels in People with New Daily Persitent Headache?

I have long thought that I have a lot of inflammation in my body, which is why I still have a headache, and was brought on by the sinus infection caused by removing my wisdom teeth.

New research by Dr. Todd Rozen, at the Michigan Head Pain and Neurological Institute, suggests that almost all NDPH patients have an elevated level of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF α) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

As about 30% of NDPH patients have their headaches start after an infection or illness, the possibility of a persistent state of systemic or central nervous system (CNS) inflammation comes into question. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α is a proinflammatory cytokine involved in brain immune and inflammatory activities, as well as in pain initiation. Elevation of CSF TNF α levels has been found in a select number of neurologic conditions, suggesting CNS inflammation in those disorders.


Proinflammatory cytokines in the CSF produce and enhance pain in animal models. Up until recently, spinal cord glia were considered the sole source of CSF cytokines including TNF α. A new investigation, however, has suggested that cells in the meninges adjacent to the CSF space also produce proinflammatory cytokines that enter into the spinal fluid. Little is known about what triggers the meningeal cells to produce inflammatory cytokines. However, in laboratory animals, recognized triggers of glial cell activation include infection, stress, and surgical procedures.

Wisdom teeth removal can cause infection, stress, and is a surgical procedure, and certainly did in my case. Therefore, it is possible that proinflammatory cytokines entered into my spinal fluid. Based on the study, Dr. Rozen suggests specific TNF α inhibitors may have an important role in the treatment of NDPH and refractory chronic migraine. Currently there are three different TNF α inhibitors available designed to treat autoimmune disorders.

To read the entire article visit http://www.teethremoval.com/elevation-of-csf-tumor-necrosis-factor-alpha-levels-in-ndph.html

3 thoughts on “High Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Levels in People with New Daily Persitent Headache?”

  1. Hi Ann,

    I actually am a member at mdjunction, my username is OmegaYen. I actually found out about Dr. Todd Rozen their. It’s a very helpful site 🙂

Leave a Comment