Higher levels of circulating CXCL-9 and CXCL-11 in euthyroid women with autoimmune thyroiditis and recurrent spontaneous abortions

Abstract

Background: We aimed to measure serum CXCL-9 and CXCL-11 levels in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) and recurrent spontaneous abortions (RSA).Methods: Forty-one euthyroid, non-pregnant women with AIT and a history of unexplained first trimester RSA, 35 euthyroid women with AIT, and 29 healthy controls matched for age and body mass index were enrolled. Serum CXCL-9 and CXCL-11 were measured.Results: Serum CXCL-9 and -11 levels were significantly higher (p < 0.001 for both) in the antibody-positive women with a history of abortions than in both control groups. Additionally, CXCL-9 levels were higher in patients with AIT without RSA than in healthy controls. No significant differences were found in CXCL-9 and -11 levels in subjects with a history of RSA in relation to the number of previous abortions. In multiple linear regression analyses, abortions were significantly related to CXCL-9 (β-coefficient = 0.174, p < 0.001), CXCL-11 (β-coefficient = 0.490, p < 0.001).Conclusion: Higher circulating levels of CXCL-9 and -11 have been shown in non-pregnant AIT patients with a history of RSA as compared to both control groups, suggesting that this subgroup produce a more dominant Th-1 cytokine profile.