title: First trimester interleukin-6 levels help to predict adverse pregnancy outcomes in both thyroid autoantibody positive and negative patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study is to compare pregnancy outcomes among patients with and without thyroid antibodies and/or subclinical hypothyroidism and investigate whether there is an association between first trimester maternal plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels and adverse pregnancy outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case-control study was carried out including 83 pregnant women (40 thyroid antibody positive and 43 healthy controls). The predictive value of first trimester maternal plasma IL-6 levels on adverse pregnancy outcomes were investigated. The optimal cut-off points of IL-6 for determining maternal and fetal outcomes were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the control, median IL-6 levels were significantly higher in thyroid antibody positive pregnancies (median 1.58 vs 1.63 pg/mL; P = 0.047). IL-6 levels were found to be significantly higher in women who had suffered a miscarriage (P = 0.002), preterm delivery (P < 0.001), intrauterine growth restriction (P = 0.047), preterm premature rupture of membranes (P = 0.043) and overall prenatal complications (P < 0.001). A statistically significant negative correlation between gestational week at birth and IL-6 levels was also determined among all participants involved in the study (r = -0.385, P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IL-6 levels are significantly increased in thyroid antibody positive patients and predictive for future adverse outcomes, irrespective of thyroid autoimmunity. Increased first trimester IL-6 levels independently predict adverse pregnancy outcomes, regardless of subclinical hypothyroidism.
authors: Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Efser
authors: E
authors: Oztas
authors: Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Kudret
authors: K
authors: Erkenekli
authors: Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Sibel
authors: S
authors: Ozler
authors: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Ankara Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Aynur
authors: A
authors: Aktas
authors: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Umran
authors: U
authors: Buyukkagnıcı
authors: Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Dilek
authors: D
authors: Uygur
authors: Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Nuri
authors: N
authors: Danisman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First / Q000097:blood*; D047928:Premature Birth; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D015850:Interleukin-6
keywords: adverse pregnancy outcomes; interleukin-6; thyroid antibodies