Abstract： Objective To study the changes of vascular endothelial functional status and cytokine TNF-α in patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS).Methods Plasma levels of tissue plasminogen activator (t-Pa), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1 ), circulating endothelial cell (CEC) and serum levels of endothelin (ET-1), tumor necrosis factor- ( (TNF-α), nitric oxide (NO) were determined serially dynamically in patients with MODS and those without MODS (non-MODS). At the same time Marshall scores were evaluated.Results Blood levels of TNF-α, ET-1, PAI-1, CEC, and Marshall scores were significantly higher in MODS and succumbed (those who died) groups than those in non-MODS and survied (those who lived) groups (P ＜ 0.05), but blood levels of NO and t-Pa were significantly lower ( P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion TNF-α played an important role in the progression of MODS. The increase of ET-1, PAI-1, CEC and the decrease of NO and t-Pa indicated endothelial dysfunction in MODS. Marshall scoring system for MODS was a sensitive parameter in evaluating the patients with MODS.