serum cytokines profiles in iranian patients with preeclampsia

background: preeclampsia is a major cause of mortality and morbidity and is also a leading cause of preterm birth and intrauterine growth retardation. several studies have reported abnormal levels of cytokines in women with preeclampsia. objectives: to detect serum levels of various cytokines in pregnant women with and without preeclampsia in the third trimester of pregnancy. methods: thirty patients with preeclampsia and thirty normal pregnant women were enrolled in the study. blood samples were taken and serum levels of ifn γ, il-12p70, il-18, il-15, il-4 and il-10 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (elisa). results: preeclamptic women had significantly increased levels of circulating il-12p70 (p < 0.05), il-18 (p < 0.001), il-4 (p < 0.001), il-15 (p < 0.05) and ifn γ (p < 0.001). by contrast, circulating levels of il-10 were not significantly different between the two groups. conclusions: the present study supports the hypothesis of altered immune response in preeclampsia and suggests that dysregulation of cytokine expression occurs in preeclampsia with increased levels of ifn γ, il-12p70, il-15, il-18 and il-4.