<h4>Background</h4>We evaluated the levels of the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and caspase-3 in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum of COVID-19 patients to improve our knowledge about underlying mechanisms caused by this virus in central nervous system involvement.<h4>Case presentation</h4>This case series study included six COVID-19 patients from March 26, 2020, to April 17, 2020, and six healthy control patients. Here, TNF is linked to COVID-19.