Plasma interleukin-1α, interleukin-1β and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist levels in pre-eclampsia

Abstract

The values of plasma interleukin-1α (IL-1α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) levels were evaluated as the markers of pre-eclampsia in 35 serial plasma samples from ten pregnant women who subsequently developed pre-eclampsia and in 74 plasma samples from 20 uncomplicated pregnancies, retrospectively. No correlation was found between plasma IL-1α, IL-1β and IL-1ra levels, liver and renal function tests. thrombocyte and white blood cell counts, proteinuria, systolic and diastolic blood pressures and gestational weeks. Almost equal levels of IL-1α and IL-1β were measured in all corresponding groups, but these were too few in number to statistically analyze. IL-1ra values were higher in the pre-eclampsia group than in the uncomplicated pregnancy group, at 20–25 and 31–35 gestational weeks significantly and 26–30 gestational weeks insignificantly and showed an increase during labor in both groups. It was found to have 58% positive predictivity, 100% negative predictivity, 50% specificity and 100% sensitivity at gestational weeks 20–25. According to these results, IL-1ra seems to be considered for its high negative predictivity in the exclusion of the probability of pre-eclampsia development during antenatal visits, but its plasma level is not correlated with the severity of the disease.