title: Cytokine levels in gestational diabetes mellitus: a systematic review of the literature.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is an inflammatory condition that involves unbalanced cytokine production. We carried out a systematic review on the relationship between GDM and maternal circulating levels of cytokines in the 2nd/3rd trimesters.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE and LILACS), were searched. Duplicate study selection, extraction and quality assessment was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-two studies with 1982 participants reporting levels of 9 cytokines (IL-1B, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13, IL-18, IFN-G, TGF-B and TNF-A) were included. Most studies differed considerably in selection criteria, sampling and assay methods and in reporting their results. Consequently, only two studies could be pooled: TNF-A concentration was slightly higher in GDM than in control patients, although not significant (WMD=0.45, 95% CI -0.34-1.23).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  New studies with well-defined, more homogeneous methodological parameters are needed to detect whether there are significant differences in circulating levels of cytokines in patients with GDM.
authors: Department of Obstetrics, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Caio Perez
authors: CP
authors: Gomes
authors: Maria Regina
authors: MR
authors: Torloni
authors: Bárbara Yasmin
authors: BY
authors: Gueuvoghlanian-Silva
authors: Sandra Maria
authors: SM
authors: Alexandre
authors: Rosiane
authors: R
authors: Mattar
authors: Silvia
authors: S
authors: Daher
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators