European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

ASSESSEMENT OF SOME CYTOKINES IN PREGNANCY LOSS

Igwe Chioma Ada*, Adias Teddy Charles, Eze Evelyn Mgbeoma and Nwachuku Edna Ogechi

ABSTRACT

Background: Human pregnancy is mediated by complex immunological alterations. Objective: Assessment of some cytokines in pregnancy loss in Abia State, South East, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving women in their reproductive years. Study population was stratified into 3 groups. The serum concentrations of the following cytokines: IFN-γ, IL-12 (Th1 cytokines), IL-10 and IL-4 (Th2 cytokines), were measured using the ELISA technique and compared among the three groups. Results: A total of 130 apparently healthy Nigerian women of child-bearing age were enrolled in the study. The study groups consisted of 70 women who had just lost a pregnancy, 30 women with normally progressing pregnancy and 30 nonpregnant women. Results show that the IFN-γ, IL-12 (Th1cytokines) and IL-4 (Th2 cytokines) concentrations of the pregnancy-loss subjects were significantly higher than that of the control groups. Conclusion: Pregnancy loss is associated with Th1 bias.

Keywords: Pregnancy loss, cytokines.