Changes in the concentration of sHLA-I and selected cytokines in pregnancy complicated by antiphospholipid syndrome.

OBJECTIVES

To compare the serum concentrations of the selected cytokines from subsequent trimesters of antiphospholipid syndrome complicated pregnancies.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This study included 43 pregnant women (23 patients diagnosed with antiphospholipid syndrome and 20 controls). IL-2R, IL-4, IL-10, INF-gamma, TNF-alpha, and class I sHLA concentrations were analyzed by ELISA in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimester

RESULTS

INF-gamma levels were below the method detection threshold and therefore were not included in the final analysis. No significant changes in IL-2R, IL-4, IL-10, TNF-alpha, and class I sHLA concentrations were observed in subsequent trimesters in the group of women with antiphospholipid syndrome. Significant decrease in IL-10 in the 2nd trimester along with significant increase in TNF-alpha in the 3rd trimester were noted amongst the control subjects. The only significant inter-group difference was observed in the 1st trimester when mean TNF-alpha level was significantly higher among antiphospholipid syndrome women if compared to controls.

CONCLUSIONS

The observed lack of significant differences between antiphospholipid syndrome affected and control group pregnancies in their sHLA class I and cytokine concentrations may be related to the fact that the treatment of antiphospholipid syndrome was implemented early and continued throughout all trimesters of the pregnancy.