Serum levels of IL-18, IL-12 and TH-1/TH-2 ratio in patients with pre-eclampsia.

The syndrome of pre-eclampsia has been ascribed to generalized maternal endothelial dysfunction, poor placentation and excessive maternal inflammatory response. It has been suggested that T-helper (Th)2 dominance in normal pregnancy shifts to Th1 dominance in pre-eclampsia and that IL-18 acts in synergy with IL-12 to promote development of T-helper (Th)1 responses. In the present study, serum IL-18 and IL-12 levels and Th1:Th2 ratio were assessed in 120 pregnant women with PE, as well as 60 normotensive pregnant women in their third trimester demographically matched to the diseased women. The results obtained showed that IL-18 was significantly higher in women with PE (whether mild or severe) than in normal pregnancy. The IL-12 was not significantly increased in mild PE but significantly increased in severe cases. The Th1: Th2 ratio was significantly higher in women with PE when compared to normal pregnant women. Such data may suggest that PE is a Th1-type immunity disorders.