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Correlation of Serum Cytokine and Adhesion Molecule Determinations With Pregnancy Outcome

Fearing Research Laboratory; Center for Reproductive Medicine, Divisions of Reproductive Immunology and Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts

Joseph A. Hill, MD

Fearing Research Laboratory; Center for Reproductive Medicine, Divisions of Reproductive Immunology and Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; The Fearing Research Laboratory, SGMB, Room 204, 250 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115

Objective: To test the hypothesis that serum levels of T helper [Th]-1-type (interleukin [IL]-2, interferon [IFN]-, tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-) and Th2-type (IL-10) cytokines and the soluble intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) are associated with pregnancy outcome in women with a history of recurrent spontaneous abortion.

Methods: Peripheral serum was obtained from 104 women between 29 and 42 years of age with a history of two or more (range two to 12, mode four) prior pregnancy losses. Levels of IL-2, IFN-, TNF-, IL-10, and sICAM-1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in sera from 29 of the 104 individuals when not pregnant and 92 of these women when pregnant between 6 and 7 weeks of gestation. Seventeen women provided samples before and during pregnancy.

Results: Interleukin-2, IFN-, and IL-10 were not detectable in any serum sample. Low levels of TNF- were detected in 46 sera from pregnant women but did not correlate with pregnancy outcome. In contrast, sICAM-1 was demonstrable in all sera. However, no differences were observed between pregnant and nonpregnant women. Similarly, there was no difference in serum levels of sICAM-1 between women who subsequently aborted (n = 13) and those who successfully carried to term (n = 15). Neither patient age nor number of prior losses significantly correlated with serum cytokine and sICAM-1 levels.

Conclusion: Peripheral serum levels of selected Th1-type and Th2-type cytokines and sICAM-1 were not associated with pregnancy outcome in women with a history of recurrent spontaneous abortion.

Key Words: Serum • cytokines • adhesion molecules • pregnancy • recurrent abortion

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