Cytokine storm

A severe, dysregulated immune response in which excessive inflammatory signaling can damage tissues and impair organ function.

Interleukin-6: A cytokine involved in inflammation, immune regulation, and the acute-phase response. Elevated levels can accompany severe inflammatory responses and guide treatment in some settings.
Sepsis: Life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. Severe infection can trigger systemic inflammation resembling a cytokine storm.
C-reactive protein: A blood protein produced by the liver that rises in response to inflammation. Its concentration can help track systemic inflammation, but it does not identify a storm by itself.
Macrophage activation syndrome: A severe hyperinflammatory complication associated with rheumatic diseases and characterized by activated macrophages and T cells. It is a specific clinical syndrome, not a synonym for every cytokine storm.
Tumor necrosis factor: A cytokine that promotes inflammation and helps regulate immune responses and cell survival. It can contribute to vascular and tissue injury when inflammatory signaling becomes excessive.
Cytokine release syndrome: A systemic inflammatory toxicity caused by widespread immune-cell activation and cytokine release. It is a well-defined treatment-related syndrome that can include a cytokine storm.
Ferritin: A protein that stores iron and is measured in blood as a marker of iron stores and inflammation. Marked elevation can support evaluation of some hyperinflammatory syndromes.
Systemic inflammatory response syndrome: A clinical pattern of systemic inflammation defined by abnormalities in temperature, heart rate, breathing, or white-cell count. It describes a broad response pattern and does not establish excessive cytokine signaling as its cause.
NLRP3 inflammasome: An intracellular protein complex that activates inflammatory caspases and promotes release of interleukin-1β and interleukin-18. Its activation can intensify inflammatory signaling in some forms of immune overactivation.
CAR T-cell therapy: Cancer treatment using genetically engineered T cells that recognize and attack tumor cells. Its powerful immune activation can cause cytokine release syndrome.

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