Cytokines profiles in Sudanese women with preeclampsia.

BACKGROUND

Cytokine imbalance in preeclampsia may be one of the etiological factors for preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVES

The study was conducted to investigate interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in preeclampsia. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the concentrations of these three pro-inflammatory cytokines in sera from 33 Sudanese women with preeclampsia (at presentation and 7 days later) and 32 women with normal pregnancy as a control group.

RESULTS

The levels of IFN-gamma and IL-4 were slightly--not statistically significant--higher in the women with preeclampsia. IL-10 was significantly higher in the women with preeclampsia. Women with preeclampsia had significantly lower levels of IFN-gamma and IL-4 and significantly higher levels of IL-10 7 days later in comparison with the presenting levels.

CONCLUSION

Thus, the significantly raised levels of IL-10 in women with preeclampsia suggest its role in pathogenesis of preeclampsia, and further research is needed.