Upregulation of neutrophil surface adhesion molecules in infants of pre-eclamptic women.

Objective: To evaluate evidence of neutrophil activation in infants born to pre-eclamptic women and examine any association between degree of neutrophil activation and severity of pre-eclampsia.

Design: This study utilized quantitative flow cytometry to determine whether the expression of surface adhesion molecules: CD18, CD11a, CD11b, and CD11c on cord blood neutrophils using mean channel fluorescence values (MCF). A total of 20 infants of pre-eclamptic women were compared with a control group of 19 infants of normotensive women.

Results: MCF values were significantly higher in infants born to pre-eclamptic women vs controls: CD18 (432.0+/-236.3 vs 230.5+/-97.9; p=0.002), CD11a (552.9+/-272.4 vs 326.9+/-268.6; p=0.003), CD11b (937.2+/-521.9 vs 576.6+/-352.9; p=0.025), and CD11c (228.5+/-130.3 vs 133.0+/-77.1; p=0.006), respectively. The mean MCF values appeared higher in severe vs mild pre-eclampsia.

Conclusions: This study revealed neutrophil activation in infants born to pre-eclamptic women. The relationship between neutrophil activation and severity of pre-eclampsia warrants further study.