title: Plasma TNF-α levels are higher in early pregnancy in patients with secondary compared with primary recurrent miscarriage.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Specific pro-inflammatory cytokine profiles in plasma may characterize women with recurrent miscarriage (RM) but the dynamics of the cytokine profiles with progressing pregnancy is largely unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma was repeatedly sampled in the first trimester from 47 RM patients. The concentrations of five cytokines including tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were measured. TNF-α levels were correlated to carriage of five TNFA promoter polymorphisms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TNF-α levels increased (P = 0.014) with progressing pregnancy, with higher levels in secondary than primary RM (P = 0.042) but with no significant impact on outcome. Carriage of TNFA -863C and TNFA -1031T was associated with higher TNF-α levels, and the former was found more often in secondary than primary RM (P < 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plasma TNF-α levels increase during early pregnancy in RM women regardless of outcome, but are higher in secondary than primary RM, which may be partly genetically determined.
authors: The Fertility Clinic, University Hospital Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors: Zofia Maria
authors: ZM
authors: Piosik
authors: Yuri
authors: Y
authors: Goegebeur
authors: Louise
authors: L
authors: Klitkou
authors: Rudi
authors: R
authors: Steffensen
authors: Ole Bjarne
authors: OB
authors: Christiansen
mesh_terms: D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000517:prevention & control; D000328:Adult; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D020073:Gravidity / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000235:genetics; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second / Q000097:blood*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
keywords: Primary recurrent miscarriage; secondary recurrent miscarriage; tumour necrosis factor alpha dynamics; tumour necrosis factor alpha promoter polymorphism