title: Levels of cytokines in umbilical cord blood in small for gestational age preterm infants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Being born small for gestational age (SGA) can be a reference to intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and is associated with increased neonatal morbidity and mortality. In pregnancies complicated by IUGR placental insufficiency is thought to be one of the leading underlying pathogenetic mechanisms. As cytokines appear to be implicated in implantation and -placental development, imbalances in cytokine levels may contribute to pregnancy disorders i. e., IUGR.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Cord blood cytokine profiles were analyzed in order to characterize differences in cytokine profiles between SGA and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) preterm infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cytokine concentrations were measured in venous cord blood of preterm infants delivered by caesarean section without previous labour activity and without signs of maternal or fetal infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  93 preterm infants were enrolled, 29 SGA preterm infants (GA 31.0 (24.6-36.7) weeks; BW 1080 (315-2010) grams) and 63 AGA preterm infants (GA 33.3 (26.0-36.9) weeks; BW 1790 (760-3570) grams). In both groups multiple cytokines could be detected. Significant differences in cytokine levels between the groups were found for G-CSF, IL-12p40 and IL-8, while levels of IL-1a, IL-6, IL-10, IP-10, MCP-1, MCP-3, MIP-1a and TNF-a were not different.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alteration of cytokine levels in SGA preterm infants may be involved in the pathogenesis of reduced intrauterine growth as well as in the higher morbidity in these infants. Further studies are needed to get more comprehension of the complex function of cytokines in pregnancies complicated by IUGR.
authors.affiliation: Center of Pediatrics and Neonatology, University of the Saarland, -Homburg, Germany.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lindner
authors.affiliation: Center of Pediatrics and Neonatology, University of the Saarland, -Homburg, Germany.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tutdibi
authors.affiliation: Neonatology, Grosshadern, Ludwig-Maximilian University, Munich, -Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Binot
authors.affiliation: Center of Pediatrics and Neonatology, University of the Saarland, -Homburg, Germany.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Monz
authors.affiliation: Neonatology, Grosshadern, Ludwig-Maximilian University, Munich, -Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hilgendorff
authors.affiliation: Center of Pediatrics and Neonatology, University of the Saarland, -Homburg, Germany.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gortner
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000276:immunology*; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000276:immunology; D005865:Gestational Age; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000097:blood; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age / Q000276:immunology*; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010927:Placental Insufficiency / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor