Serum levels of TNF-á and antioxidant enzymes and placental TNF-á expression in unexplained recurrent spontaneous miscarriage

ABSTRACT

It has been proposed that many factors have been implicated in the pathogenesisof unexplained recurrent spontaneous miscarriage (URSM). The objective ofthis study was to evaluate the levels of some antioxidants, tumor necrosis factor-á(TNF-á), luteinizing (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in URSM. Serumlevels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), LH, FSH as well as TNF-áin serum and the expression of TNF-á positive cells in placental tissues, were assayedin women suffering from unexplained first trimester miscarriage. Two groups wereincluded, the first was represented by 16 women with URSM (number of abortions3-5) and the second one included 24 women with URSM (number of abortions > 5).The control groups included 20 women within their first trimester of pregnancy and20 non pregnant healthy females within their follicular phase. The obtained resultsshowed a highly significant decrease in serum levels of SOD and CAT, in the URSMgroups compared to control groups (p< 0.05 for each comparison). Higher serumlevels of TNF- á were detected in URSM groups compared to control groups (p<0.05 for each comparison). A significant increase in serum levels of LH was encounteredbetween URSM groups compared to control groups; on the other hand themean levels of FSH expressed no significant changes among URSM groups as comparedto first trimester pregnancies control group. A positive correlation was noticedbetween serum levels of TNF-á and the levels of LH (p< 0.05). We conclude thatantioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD), TNF- á, LH and FSH may play a major role inthe pathogenesis of URSM. Much more work is required before the mechanisms,which lead to RSM, can be fully understood(AU)