If you have a severe bacterial infection, like a bad cold or pneumonia, high tumor necrosis factor (TNF) levels are a sign of inflammation that’s helping you heal. But high TNF levels can also trigger some unpleasant symptoms:
If you have a lot of TNF but no infection, your immune system may not be working properly. Symptoms are usually different from when you have an infection. If you have psoriasis, high TNF levels play a role in the raised, red skin plaques that come with the disease. For people with RA, they play a role in joint swelling and redness.
- Low blood pressure
- Fever
- Muscle aches
- Loss of appetite
- Redness and swelling (if you have an infected wound)