Inflammatory disturbances in preeclampsia: Relationship between maternal and umbilical cord blood

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2012

Authors

Catarino, C (Author) FFUP; Santos Silva, A (Author) FFUP; Belo, L (Author) FFUP; Rocha Pereira, P (Author) Other; Rocha, S (Author) FFUP; Patricio, B (Author) Other; Quintanilha, A (Author) ICBAS; Rebelo, I (Author) FFUP

Journal

Title: Journal of Pregnancy

Vol. 2012

Pages: 1-10

ISSN: 2090-2727

Publisher: Hindawi

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge

Scopus - 58 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-008-63R

DOI: 10.1155/2012/684384

Abstract (EN): Preeclampsia (PE) is one of the main causes of maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity. PE is associated with an inflammatory state and with oxidative stress, in maternal circulation. Our aim was to evaluate and compare the levels of oxidative stress and inflammatory markers in maternal and umbilical cord blood (UCB), in normal and PE pregnancies. We measured acute-phase proteins (CRP and ¿1-antitrypsin), proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-¿), leukocyte activation (elastase, lactoferrin, sL-selectin, sVCAM, sPECAM), total antioxidant status (TAS), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and uric acid levels. We studied 42 healthy pregnant women, 46 PE women, and their neonates. The concentrations of IL-6, TNF-¿, ¿1-antitrypsin, CRP, sVCAM, uric acid, and TBARS were significantly higher, and sL-selectin was significantly lower in PE pregnant women as compared with normotensive pregnant women. In newborns uric acid, ¿1-antitrypsin, and CRP values were significantly higher in PE; leukocyte count, sL-selectin, lactoferrin, and the ratio elastase/¿1-antitrypsin were significantly lower. Our data suggest that PE pregnancy is associated with an enhanced maternal inflammatory condition, which is reflected in fetal circulation. This enhanced inflammatory state seems to be related to endothelial dysfunction and increased cytokine synthesis, rather than with neutrophil activation. © 2012 Cristina Catarino et al.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific