Maternal serum cytokine levels in women with hyperemesis gravidarum in the first trimester of pregnancy

Abstract

Objective To compare serum cytokine levels in patients with hyperemesis gravidarum with levels in healthy pregnant and nonpregnant women. Design Case–control study. Setting Clinical and academic research center. Patient(s) Thirty women with hyperemesis gravidarum, 30 healthy women in the first trimester of pregnancy, and 30 healthy nonpregnant women. Main outcome measure(s) Serum levels of interleukin-1β, interleukin-2 receptor, interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α.. Result(s) Median serum levels of interleukin-2 receptor and interleukin-8 did not differ significantly among the three groups. Serum levels of interleukin-1β and interleukin-6 were significantly higher in healthy pregnant women than in healthy nonpregnant women. Median TNF-α levels were significantly higher in women with hyperemesis (25.8 pg/mL [range, 4.9–140 pg/mL]) than in healthy pregnant and nonpregnant women (10.85 pg/mL [range, 4.1–35.8 pg/mL] and 12 pg/mL [4.3–68.2 pg/mL], respectively). Conclusion(s) Levels of TNF-α were significantly higher in patients with hyperemesis gravidarum than in healthy pregnant and nonpregnant women. Thus, TNF-α may be involved in the etiology of hyperemesis gravidarum.