title: PP028. Serum cytokine profile in relation to the clinical features and laboratory parameters in women with preeclampsia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Preeclampsia is characterized by an excessive maternal systemic inflammatory response.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine circulating levels of cytokines, chemokines and adhesion molecules in normal pregnancy and preeclampsia, and to investigate their relationship to the clinical features and laboratory parameters of the patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum levels of IL-1beta, IL-1ra, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p40, IL-12p70, IL-18, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, TGF-beta1, IP-10, MCP-1, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were measured in 60 preeclamptic, 60 healthy pregnant and 59 healthy non-pregnant women.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In addition to a shift towards Th1-type immunity (increased IL-2/IL-4 and IFN-gamma/IL-4 ratios), levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-alpha, the chemokines IL-8, IP-10 and MCP-1, as well as the adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and VCAM-1, were raised in preeclampsia, resulting in an overall pro-inflammatory systemic environment. Increased IP-10, MCP-1, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 concentrations of preeclamptic patients showed significant correlations with blood pressure values, renal and liver function parameters, as well as with CRP, malondialdehyde, von Willebrand factor antigen and fibronectin levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elevated amounts of pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines and adhesion molecules in the maternal circulation might play a central role in the excessive systemic inflammatory response, as well as in the generalized endothelial dysfunction characteristics of preeclampsia.
authors.forename: Attila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Molvarec
authors.forename: András
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szarka
authors.forename: Levente
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lázár
authors.forename: János
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rigó