title: Fetal plasma tumor necrosis factor concentration in normal pregnancy.
abstract: The aim of the study was to investigate changes with gestation of fetal plasma tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) concentration. In a cross-sectional study, enzyme-linked immunoassay was used to measure plasma TNF-alpha concentration in 40 fetal blood samples obtained by cordocentesis (n = 25), cardiocentesis (n = 5) or at elective caesarean section (n = 10) at 12-38 weeks gestation. The fetal plasma concentration of TNF-alpha increased from a mean of 13.5 pg/ml at 12 weeks gestation to 37.5 pg/ml at 38 weeks (r = 0.59, p < 0.0001), and was significantly associated with the monocyte count (r = 0.56, p < 0.001). TNF-alpha is present in the fetal circulation from at least 12 weeks and the changes in plasma TNF-alpha concentration with gestation coincide with the development of the fetal monocyte-macrophage system.
authors.affiliation: Harris Birthright Research Centre for Fetal Medicine, King's College Hospital Medical School, London, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abbas
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Snijders
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Buggins
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Layton
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Nicolaides
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D009000:Monocytes / Q000166:cytology; D011247:Pregnancy; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha