Maternal serum concentrations of the chemokine CXCL10/IP-10 are elevated in acute pyelonephritis during pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
Acute pyelonephritis is one of the most frequent medical complications of pregnancy, as well as a common cause of antepartum hospitalization. Interferon (IFN)-gamma inducible protein, CXCL10/IP-10, is a member of the CXC chemokine family with pro-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic properties. The purpose of this study was to determine whether maternal serum concentrations of CXCL10/IP-10 change in patients with acute pyelonephritis during pregnancy.


METHODS
This cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the difference in maternal serum concentrations of CXCL10/IP-10 in pregnant women with acute pyelonephritis (N = 41) and normal pregnant women (N = 89). Pyelonephritis was defined in the presence of a positive urine culture, fever, and maternal clinical signs; blood cultures were performed in 36 cases. Maternal serum concentrations of CXCL10/IP-10 were measured by a sensitive immunoassay. Non-parametric statistics were used for analysis.


RESULTS
(1) The median serum concentration of CXCL10/IP-10 in pregnant patients with pyelonephritis was significantly higher than in normal pregnant women (median 318.5 pg/mL, range 78.8-2459.2 vs. median 116.1 pg/mL, range 40.7-1314.3, respectively; p < 0.001); (2) maternal median serum concentrations of CXCL10/IP-10 did not differ significantly among patients with acute pyelonephritis with and without bacteremia (positive blood cultures: median 362.6 pg/mL, range 100.2-2459.2 vs. negative blood cultures: median 298.9 pg/mL, range 108.5-1148.7, respectively; p = 0.3).


CONCLUSIONS
Pyelonephritis in pregnant women is associated with an increased maternal serum concentration of the chemokine CXCL10/IP-10.
Gotsch
Francesca
F
Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Romero
Roberto
R
Espinoza
Jimmy
J
Kusanovic
Juan Pedro
JP
Mazaki-Tovi
Shali
S
Erez
Offer
O
Than
Nandor Gabor
NG
Edwin
Samuel
S
Mazor
Moshe
M
Yoon
Bo Hyan
BH
Hassan
Sonia S
SS
D016470:Bacteremia / Q000097:blood; D001437:Bacteriuria / Q000150:complications; D015415:Biomarkers; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D054357:Chemokine CXCL10 / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D011704:Pyelonephritis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology
D015415:Biomarkers; D054357:Chemokine CXCL10