[The dynamic changes of serum Th1 and Th2 cytokines in postpartum thyroiditis].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the dynamic changes of serum Th1 and Th2 cytokines in patients with postpartum thyroiditis (PPT) during the first postpartum year.


METHODS
21 patients diagnosed as clinical PPT and 11 healthy postpartum women were enrolled in the study. Blood samples were taken before delivery and every 3 months postpartum for testing serum IFNgamma, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-10, which were measured with ELISA method.


RESULTS
In patients with PPT, the detection rate of IFNgamma and IL-2 at 6th month postpartum were 19.0% (4/21) and 14.3% (3/21), respectively, being lower than those before delivery [52.4% (11/21) and 61.9% (13/21), respectively, P < 0.05]. The detection rate of IL-4 and IL-10 in patients were 71.4% (15/21) and 95.2% (20/21), respectively. A significant raise when compared with that before delivery (61.9%, 13/21) was seen in IL-10 (P < 0.05). Although Th1 cytokines (IFNgamma, IL-2) declined gradually post-parturition both in healthy postpartum women and PPT patients, yet Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-10) showed different tendency in healthy postpartum women and PPT patients. Th2 cytokines declined gradually in healthy postpartum women, while it kept at high level until the 12th month postpartum in the PPT patients.


CONCLUSIONS
In PPT patients, Th2 cytokines show higher levels after delivery. Th2 cells are dominant and protected thyroids from Th1 cells during the course of PPT; this might be helpful to the recovery from disturbance of thyroid autoimmunity.
Li
Chen-yang
CY
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Shenyang No.5 People's Hospital, Shenyang 110001, China.
Li
Yu-shu
YS
Guan
Hai-xia
HX
Fan
Chen-ling
CL
Teng
Ying
Y
Ouyang
Yu-hong
YH
Cong
Qi
Q
Shan
Zhong-yan
ZY
Teng
Wei-ping
WP
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000276:immunology*
D016207:Cytokines; D007376:Interleukin-2; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma