ABSTRACT
UNLABELLED: The immune system is responsible for the development of a typical pregnancy, including the induction of labor. OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study was to determine the concentration of maternal serum Th1 and Th2 cytokines, which have opposite biological effects, in preterm and term labor. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 88 patients were divided into four groups: normal pregnancy (n = 20), threatened preterm labor (n = 22), preterm delivery (n = 24) and term delivery (n = 22). Maternal serum interleukins 1, 6, 8 and 10 were measured with ELISA R&D Systems kits (USA). In all patients CRP was estimated and the blood specimen were analyzed using an automated hematology cell analyzer. RESULTS: Women in term and preterm delivery group had significantly higher mean IL-beta, IL-6 and IL-8 concentrations than patients in normal pregnancy and these with threatened preterm labor. In addition, the highest WBC and CRP concentration were found in women in preterm delivery compared with other groups. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal serum Th1 cytokines concentrations increase in preterm and term delivery. Determination of maternal serum IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 may play an essential role in estimations of the preterm labor risk.
Subject(s)
Cytokines/blood , Obstetric Labor, Premature/immunology , Th1 Cells/metabolism , Th2 Cells/metabolism , Adult , Biomarkers/blood , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Female , Humans , Interleukin-10/blood , Interleukin-6/blood , Interleukin-8/blood , Obstetric Labor, Premature/blood , Predictive Value of Tests , Pregnancy , Statistics, NonparametricABSTRACT
Synthesis of nitric oxide proceeds in the human myometrium. Decrease of its concentrations can play an essential part in the initiation of uterine contractions in term. Authors suppose, that inhibition of the synthesis of nitric oxide plays a role in premature labour. Concentrations of nitric oxide in women with threatening premature labour were marked. Group I consisted of women with premature departure of amniotic fluid, group II--woman with retained amniotic fluid and with idiopathic contractile activity, group III--woman with departure of amniotic fluid and with idiopathic contractile activity. Concentration of nitric oxide was lower in the group of women with a premature contractile activity in comparison with healthy pregnant women in the same period of pregnancy. Higher concentrations of nitric oxide were observed in the group of patients without contractile activity after departure of amniotic fluid.
Subject(s)
Amniotic Fluid/metabolism , Fetal Membranes, Premature Rupture/metabolism , Nitric Oxide/metabolism , Obstetric Labor, Premature/metabolism , Uterine Contraction/metabolism , Adult , Analysis of Variance , Case-Control Studies , Female , Fetal Membranes, Premature Rupture/blood , Humans , Myometrium/metabolism , Nitric Oxide/blood , Obstetric Labor, Premature/blood , Obstetric Labor, Premature/prevention & control , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Trimester, Third , Risk Factors , Time FactorsABSTRACT
The aim of the study was to determine the concentrations of TGF-beta, PDGF and VEGF growth factors in peripheral blood. The examinations were carried out in the group of pregnant women with preeclampsia. The results were compared to those obtained in a control group of healthy pregnant women. The statistically significant increase in all examined growth factors was observed in women with preeclampsia in comparison to healthy women. The results suggest that growth factors may play an important role in etiology and pathophysiology of preeclampsia.
