Comparison of interleukin-6 levels in maternal and umbilical cord blood in early- and late-onset preeclampsia.

PURPOSE

Increased inflammatory response and cytokines are claimed to play a significant role in the etiology of preeclampsia. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a proinflammatory cytokine. Limited number of studies evaluating IL-6 levels in preeclamptic patients have produced conflicting results. Therefore, the present study sought to compare maternal and umbilical cord serum levels of IL-6 in early- and late-onset preeclamptic pregnancies as well as in normal pregnancies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 69 participants were enrolled in the study. The control group consisted of 24 participants with normal pregnancies. Preeclampsia group consisted of 45 participants. The preeclampsia group was further classified into the subgroups of early- and late-onset preeclampsia. Late-onset preeclampsia group consisted of 24 women whereas early-onset preeclampsia group consisted of 21 women. Serum and umbilical cord samples of IL-6 were compared.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference between maternal and umbilical cord serum IL-6 concentrations between the preeclampsia and control group. No significant difference was observed in maternal and umbilical cord serum IL-6 levels between early- and late-onset preeclampsia groups.

CONCLUSION

Our results do not support an increase in IL-6 levels in patients with early- and late-onset preeclampsia. The clinical relevance of our findings needs to be further investigated.