Elevated C-reactive protein and pro-inflammatory cytokines in Andean women with pre-eclampsia.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the concentration of markers of inflammation in non-pregnant women, women with normal pregnancy and women with pre-eclampsia.


METHODS
Pregnant women (n=26), women with pre-eclampsia (n=25) and non-pregnant normotensive women (n=21) were included in the study. C-reactive protein was measured by latex-enhanced immunoturbidimetric assay, serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) by high sensitivity ELISA. Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric analysis of variance followed by the Mann-Whitney U-test were used for statistical analyses.


RESULTS
Higher values (mean+/-S.E.M.) of C-reactive protein were found in pre-eclampsia (4.11+/-0.37 mg/dl) compared with normal pregnant women (2.49+/-0.26 mg/dl) and non-pregnant controls (1.33+/-0.15 mg/dl). TNF-alpha was significantly higher in women with pre-eclampsia (15.74+/-5.09 pg/ml), in relation to the control group (2.76+/-0.41 pg/ml) and women with normal pregnancy (8.31+/-1.55 pg/ml). IL-6 levels were significantly higher in pre-eclamptic women (12.91+/-1.29 pg/ml) compared with normal pregnant (5.07+/-0.423 pg/ml) and control women (1.25+/-0.13 pg/ml).


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this cross-sectional study in a high-risk Andean population show that both C-reactive protein and pro-inflammatory cytokines are present in higher concentrations in women with pre-eclampsia. The study was undertaken in women with established pre-eclampsia and it is not possible to determine whether the increased concentrations of C-reactive protein and pro-inflammatory cytokines were a cause or consequence of the disease.
Teran
E
E
Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, London, UK.
Escudero
C
C
Moya
W
W
Flores
M
M
Vallance
P
P
Lopez-Jaramillo
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004484:Ecuador; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D010298:Parity; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis*
D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein