cytokine release syndrome

noun

plural cytokine release syndromes
: a sometimes life-threatening, systemic inflammatory condition that results from an aggressive immune response involving over-activation of immune cells (such as T cells in response to immunotherapy or infection) which release excessive cytokines in the body in an uncontrolled fashion and that is characterized especially by fever, fatigue, headache, rash, or muscle or joint pain and may progress to more serious symptoms including hypotension, increased heart rate, capillary leakage, edema, hypoxia, multiple organ failure, and sometimes death : the syndrome resulting from a cytokine storm : cytokine storm syndrome
Patients taking part in the trial have virus-induced cytokine release syndrome, an inflammatory illness that can cause organ failure.Kate Andrews
… but the engineered cell therapies can cause a dangerous immune reaction called cytokine release syndromeArlene Weintraub
abbreviation CRS

Examples of cytokine release syndrome in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Nearly all patients had only low grade cytokine release syndrome; one patient experienced neurotoxicity. Angus Chen Reprints, STAT, 20 Apr. 2023 Half of patients experienced mild to moderate cytokine release syndrome and 14% percent experienced mild to moderate neurotoxicity. William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cytokine release syndrome.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1991, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cytokine release syndrome was in 1991

Dictionary Entries Near cytokine release syndrome

cytokine

cytokine release syndrome

cytokinesis

Cite this Entry

“Cytokine release syndrome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cytokine%20release%20syndrome. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.

Medical Definition

cytokine release syndrome

noun
: a sometimes life-threatening, systemic inflammatory condition that results from an aggressive immune response involving over-activation of immune cells (as T cells in response to immunotherapy or infection) which release excessive cytokines in the body in an uncontrolled fashion and that is characterized especially by fever, fatigue, headache, rash, or muscle or joint pain and may progress to more serious symptoms including hypotension, increased heart rate, capillary leakage, edema, hypoxia, multiple organ failure, and sometimes death : the syndrome resulting from a cytokine storm : cytokine storm syndrome
Medical experts working with COVID-19 patients have observed that, in some serious and fatal cases, patients may be harmed even more by cytokine release syndrome—when the body's immune system overreacts to a threat and ends up damaging the body through the inflammatory response.Bridget Balch, Richmond (Virginia) Times Dispatch
Cytokine release syndrome resembles sepsis and is also seen with high-dose IL-2. With supportive care, even severe renal failure, coma, and respiratory failure are completely reversed usually.Jennifer Kelly Shepphird, Frontline Medical News
abbreviation CRS
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