title: The role of interleukin-17 in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is the most common pregnancy-specific liver disease, is characterized by pruritus, abnormal liver function and elevated serum bile acid levels. The main cause of ICP has not yet been identified. We aimed to provide a new perspective to the pathogenesis of by investigating the possible association of circulating interleukin-17 (IL-17) that is a recently discovered proinflammatory cytokine levels with ICP.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this controlled cross-sectional study, maternal venous blood samples were obtained from 33 consecutive pregnant women with ICP (15 with mild and 18 with severe forms of the disease) and 25 healthy women with uncomplicated pregnancies (as the control group) and IL-17 levels were compared among the groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although serum IL-17 levels were significantly higher in the severe ICP group than in the control group (p = 0.022), there were no significant differences between the mild and severe ICP groups or between the control and mild ICP groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Explaining the mechanisms of hepatocyte injury might contribute to the existing therapeutic strategies for treating cholestatic diseases. Changes in IL-17 levels may shed light on the pathogenesis of ICP.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Perinatology , Zekai Tahir Burak Women Health Care, Education and Research Hospital , Ankara , Turkey .
authors.forename: Ayse
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kirbas
authors.affiliation: a Department of Perinatology , Zekai Tahir Burak Women Health Care, Education and Research Hospital , Ankara , Turkey .
authors.forename: Ebru
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Biberoglu
authors.affiliation: a Department of Perinatology , Zekai Tahir Burak Women Health Care, Education and Research Hospital , Ankara , Turkey .
authors.forename: Ali Ozgur
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Ersoy
authors.affiliation: b Department of Statistics , Gazi University Medical Faculty , Ankara , Turkey .
authors.forename: Asiye Ugras
authors.initials: AU
authors.lastname: Dikmen
authors.affiliation: c Department of Biochemistry , Ataturk Education and Research Hospital , Ankara , Turkey , and.
authors.forename: Cemile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Koca
authors.affiliation: a Department of Perinatology , Zekai Tahir Burak Women Health Care, Education and Research Hospital , Ankara , Turkey .
authors.forename: Seval
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Erdinc
authors.affiliation: a Department of Perinatology , Zekai Tahir Burak Women Health Care, Education and Research Hospital , Ankara , Turkey .
authors.forename: Dilek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Uygur
authors.affiliation: a Department of Perinatology , Zekai Tahir Burak Women Health Care, Education and Research Hospital , Ankara , Turkey .
authors.forename: Turhan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Caglar
authors.affiliation: d Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Gazi University Medical School , Ankara , Turkey.
authors.forename: Kutay
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Biberoglu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002780:Cholestasis, Intrahepatic / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D020381:Interleukin-17
keywords: Bile acid; cholestasis; inflammation; interleukin 17; pregnancy