Inflammatory and procoagulant cytokine levels during pregnancy as predictors of adverse obstetrical complications.

Introduction: Disturbances in cytokine networks are believed to be associated with increased risk of adverse pregnancy complications.

Methods: Plasma samples collected from pregnant women with preterm deliveries, high-risk pregnancy complications including postpartum hemorrhage, hypertensive disorders, and multiple gestations, and normal pregnancies were analyzed at different periods throughout gestation and postpartum. Interleukin (IL) 1β , IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor α, and antiprotein Z antibody levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results: The IL-6 levels in preterm delivery patients were elevated during pregnancy with statistically significant differences observed at 21 to 32 weeks (P < .01) and 33+ weeks (P < .001). The IL-10 levels were increased in normal pregnancy at all time points compared to the other patient groups (P < .05). The TNF-α levels were elevated in the high-risk pregnancy group versus normal controls (P < .001 at <21 weeks and P < .05 at 21-32 weeks).

Conclusion: Analysis of the maternal plasma for elevated IL-6 and reduced IL-10 levels may be of value in the early prediction of pregnancy complications.