Plasma immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM, IgA) change in pregnancies of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia compared to normotensive pregnant and non-pregnant

Abstract

Background: Pre-eclampsia is an unpredictable pregnancy complication; severe pre-eclampsia affects the brain, evenseizures, and induces eclampsia. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted among a total of 155 subjectscomprising pre-eclampsia (n=44), eclampsia (n=47), normotensive pregnant (n=35), and normotensive non-pregnant(n=29) women. Plasma immunoglobulin content was determined by indirect Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay(ELISA). Significant differences in immunoglobulin contents across the groups were assessed by one-way analysisof variance (ANOVA) and between two groups by pair-sample t-tests. Results: Results showed significant (p<0.05)differences in IgG and IgM levels, while no significant changes were observed in the IgA level across groups. The IgGlevel was found to be increasing from non-pregnant (6.86±0.6 g/L) to the eclampsia (7.42±0.9 g/L) to pre-eclampsia(7.53±0.7 g/L); there had also significant (p<0.05) changes among eclampsia (7.42±0.9 g/L), normotensive pregnant(6.96±0.5 g/L), and non-pregnant (6.86±0.6 g/L). Furthermore, immunoglobulin M (IgM) had significant (p<0.05)variations among the complicated pregnancies (pre-eclampsia and eclampsia), normotensive pregnant (2.09±0.4), andnon-pregnant (2.64±0.2) women. At the same time, the highest amount of IgM was found in eclampsia (2.74±0.3 g/L)and the lowest in pre-eclamptic subjects (1.92±0.1 g/L). Conclusion: Significant alterations were observed in IgG andIgM levels across the groups, while changes (P>0.05) in the IgA level among the pre-eclamptic, eclamptic, pregnant,and non-pregnant women were found to be independent.