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Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) across conditions

Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) appears in 3 entries of the OSMF biomarker atlas, covering Gulf War Illness, Long COVID, ME/CFS. Across those entries it is elevated in 2, mixed in 1. Because the same marker shifts in several unrelated conditions, it is best understood as a signal of shared biology such as inflammation, vascular or metabolic stress rather than as a condition-specific test. Each row below links to a page with the comparison group, associated symptoms, test details and primary citation.

Gulf War IllnessLong COVIDME/CFS

Where Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) is reported

Also listed as: Pro-inflammatory cytokine

ConditionDirectionCompared againstAssociated symptomsSource
Gulf War Illness↑ elevatedhealthy Gulf War veteran controlsFatigue, pain, inflammationJohnson et al. 2016
Long COVID↑ elevatedhealthy controls, recovered individuals without persistent symptomsFatigue, myalgiaLai et al. 2023; Saito et al. 2024
ME/CFS↕ inconsistenthealthy controlsFatigue, heterogeneous across studiesCorbitt et al. 2019

Frequently asked questions

In which conditions is Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) altered?

In the OSMF atlas Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) is reported in Gulf War Illness, Long COVID, ME/CFS. It is elevated in 2, mixed in 1 across 3 entries.

Does Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) point to one specific diagnosis?

No. Because Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) changes in several conditions (Gulf War Illness, Long COVID, ME/CFS), an abnormal result cannot identify which condition, if any, is present. It must be interpreted with symptoms, history and other tests.

What is the LOINC code for Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α)?

Entries in this atlas use LOINC 3074-8. LOINC codes identify the laboratory observation so results can be compared across systems.

Is one abnormal Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) result diagnostic?

No single biomarker result is diagnostic of any of these conditions. Findings reflect group averages from published cohorts with substantial overlap between patients and controls.

Cite this page

Open Source Medicine Foundation. (2026). Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) across conditions: biomarker evidence. OSMF Research Tracker. Retrieved October 7, 2026, from https://research.opensourcemed.info/biomarkers/markers/tumor-necrosis-factor-alpha-tnf-alpha.html
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Last reviewed: 2026-06-29 · Browse: Biomarker Index · All marker pages · Biomarker Atlas

Disclaimer: Educational synthesis of peer-reviewed research; not medical advice. Findings are group-level and vary with study design. Discuss any result with a qualified clinician.