title: Comparison of maternal serum levels of interleukin-10, interleukin-12, and interleukin-2 in normal and preeclamptic pregnancies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was 2 fold: (1) to compare the maternal serum levels of IL-10, IL-12, and IL-2 in preeclamptic and normal pregnant women, and (2) to study the serum levels of these cytokines in preeclamptic pregnancies with and without intrauterine growth retardation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty women with singleton pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia (32 severe and 8 mild) and 29 normotensive healthy pregnant women were included in the study. Preeclamptic patients were further divided into 2 groups according to the presence or absence of intrauterine growth retardation. Maternal serum levels of IL-10, IL 12, and IL-2 were compared between these groups using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Maternal serum levels of IL-10 were significantly higher in the preeclampsia group than in controls (p<0.001). There were no statistically significant differences in maternal serum concentrations of IL-2 and IL-10 between the study and control groups (p>0.05). Serum levels of IL-2 and IL-10 in the patients with preeclampsia complicated by IUGR were elevated in comparison with the uncomplicated preeclampsia group. These differences were statistically significant (p<0.05 for both).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IL-10 may be involved in the pathologic process of preeclampsia. Increased serum levels of IL-10 and IL-2 in preeclampsia complicated with IUGR suggests a possible role of these cytokines in IUGR.
authors.affiliation: University of Ondokuz Mayis, School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Samsun, Turkey. Electronic address: drhandancelik@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Handan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Celik
authors.affiliation: University of Ondokuz Mayis, School of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, Samsun, Turkey. Electronic address: bahattinavci@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Bahattin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Avcı
authors.affiliation: University of Ondokuz Mayis, School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Samsun, Turkey. Electronic address: yalper@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Tayfun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Alper
keywords: Interleukines; Intrauterine growth retardation; Preeclampsia