Comparison of maternal serum levels of interleukin-10, interleukin-12, and interleukin-2 in normal and preeclamptic pregnancies

Objective: The aim of this study was 2 fold: (1) to compare the maternal serum levels of IL10, IL-12, and IL-2 in preeclamptic and normal pregnant women, and (2) to study the serum levels of these cytokines in preeclamptic pregnancies with and without intrauterine growth retardation. Study design: Forty women with singleton pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia (32 severe and 8 mild) and 29 normotensive healthy pregnant women were included in the study. Preeclamptic patients were further divided into 2 groups according to the presence or absence of intrauterine growth retardation. Maternal serum levels of IL-10, IL 12, and IL2 were compared between these groups using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results: Maternal serum levels of IL-10 were significantly higher in the preeclampsia group than in controls (p < 0.001). There were no statistically significant differences in maternal serum concentrations of IL-2 and IL-10 between the study and control groups (p > 0.05). Serum levels of IL-2 and IL-10 in the patients with preeclampsia complicated by IUGR were elevated in comparison with the uncomplicated preeclampsia group. These differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05 for both). Conclusions: IL-10 may be involved in the pathologic process of preeclampsia. Increased serum levels of IL-10 and IL-2 in preeclampsia complicated with IUGR suggests a possible role of these cytokines in IUGR. (C) 2011 International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.