ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the relationship of interleukin (IL)-18 concentrations in serum and placenta and preeclampsia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-seven patients with preeclampsia and 28 women with normal pregnancy were recruited. Blood and placenta samples were taken and serum and placental IL-18 concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The levels of IL-18 in serum and placenta were compared.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>(1) The median of serum IL-18 in patients with preeclampsia was 704 ng/L, which was significantly higher than that of control group (470 ng/L, P<0.05). (2) The median of placental IL-18 in patients with preeclampsia was 105 ng/L, which was also significantly higher than that of control group (31.5 ng/L, P<0.005).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Increased serum and placental levels of IL-18 were presented in preeclampsia as compared to normal pregnancy, which might offer insight into the pathogenesis of the disease.</p>