Second-trimester amniotic fluid proinflammatory cytokine levels in normal and overweight women.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the relationship between different adipokines and proinflammatory mediators in amniotic fluid and maternal body mass index (BMI), calculated as weight (kg)/height (m)2.


METHODS
Seventy pregnant women who underwent amniocentesis for clinical reasons at 15-20 weeks of gestation were divided into two groups according to their BMI: a control group with normal weight (BMI 20-24.9, n=35) and a case group (BMI 25 or higher, n=35). The two groups were further divided into two subgroups: overweight (BMI 25-29.9, n=22) or obese (BMI 30 or more, n=13). Comparisons of amniotic fluid cytokines (tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-alpha, interleukin [IL]-8, IL-10, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, resistin, and leptin) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were performed. The relationships between variables and maternal BMI were also analyzed.


RESULTS
There were significant differences in amniotic fluid CRP and TNF-alpha levels among the studied groups: CRP, 0.018 (+/-0.010), 0.019 (+/-0.013), and 0.035 (+/-0.028) mg/dL (P=.007); and TNF-alpha, 3.98 (+/-1.63), 3.53 (+/-1.38), and 5.46 (+/-1.69) pg/mL (P=.003), for lean, overweight, and obese women, respectively. Both proinflammatory mediators increased in women with obesity compared with both overweight and normal women (P=.01 and P=.008 for CRP; P=.003 and P=.01 for TNF-alpha, respectively). There were significant correlations between maternal BMI and amniotic fluid CRP (r=0.396; P=.001), TNF-alpha (r=0.357; P=.003) and resistin (r=0.353; P=.003).


CONCLUSIONS
Amniotic fluid CRP and TNF-alpha levels are increased in obese women, and both are related to maternal BMI, which suggests in utero exposure to higher proinflammatory cytokines and mediators in fetuses of these women.


METHODS
II.
Bugatto
Fernando
F
From the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Department of Clinical Chemistry, "Puerta del Mar" University Hospital, Cádiz, Spain.
Fernández-Deudero
Álvaro
Á
Bailén
Ángeles
Á
Fernández-Macías
Rosa
R
Hervías-Vivancos
Blas
B
Bartha
José L
JL
D000328:Adult; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000032:analysis; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000032:analysis; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000032:analysis; D020738:Leptin / Q000032:analysis; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism; D050177:Overweight / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second / Q000378:metabolism*; D052243:Resistin / Q000032:analysis; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis
D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D016207:Cytokines; D016209:Interleukin-8; D020738:Leptin; D052243:Resistin; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D002097:C-Reactive Protein