title: Plasma IL-4, IL-8, IL-12, interferon-γ and CRP levels in pregnant women with preeclampsia, and their relation with severity of disease and fetal birth weight.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to evaluate the hypothesis that preeclampsia is associated with increased systemic inflammatory responses of Th1-type as well as decreased Th2-type responses compared with normal pregnancy. We also sought to determine whether there was a correlation between these markers with severity of preeclampsia and fetal birth weight.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population consisted of maternal age, gestational age, and body mass index matched 138 pregnant women; 56 normotensive healthy pregnant women (group 1), 42 women with mild preeclampsia (group 2), 40 women with severe preeclampsia (group 3).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma interleukin (IL)-8 and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were significantly higher in group 3 than group 1 (p<0.05). Plasma IL-4, IL-12, and interferon (IFN)-γ levels were similar in all groups. Although plasma IL-8 and CRP levels of mild preeclamptic group were higher than control group and lower than severe preeclamptic group, the differences were not statistically significant. There was a positive correlation between IL-12 and fetal birth weight in severe preeclamptic group (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elevated maternal serum pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-8 and CRP in severe preeclamptic women compared with normal pregnant women supports the hypothesis that preeclampsia is associated with increased inflammatory responses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kahramanmaras Sutcuimam University Medical Faculty, Kahramanmaras, Turkey. drdenizarikan@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Deniz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cemgil Arikan
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aral
authors.forename: Ayhan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coskun
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ozer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D020567:Fetal Weight / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000097:blood*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood*; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third / Q000097:blood; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C508598:IL4 protein, human; D016209:Interleukin-8; D018664:Interleukin-12; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D002097:C-Reactive Protein