Pro- and Anti-Inflammatory Blood Cytokines Levels in Women with Moderate and Severe Pelvic Venous Insufficiency

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the blood levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in patients with moderate and severe pelvic venous insufficiency (PVI). Methods and Results: One hundred and four women with PVI and 30 healthy women (control group [CG]) of reproductive age were examined. The patients with PVI (main group [MG]) were divided into 2 subgroups according to the severity of the disease: MG-moderate (n=63) and MG-severe (n=41). The concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8), and anti-inflammatory interleukins IL-4 and IL-10 were assessed by enzyme immunoassay using monoclonal antibody panels. Measurements were performed on a microplate photometer. Data analysis showed higher values of pro-inflammatory factors (IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8) in the MG-moderate than in the CG. The MG-severe, compared with the CG, had high levels of IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, and low IL-10 concentration. In addition, patients of the MG-severe had higher levels of IL-2 than patients of the MG-moderate (P=0.045). The IL-6/IL-10 ratio was characterized by higher values in the MG-moderate and MG-severe than in the CG (P<0.0001). The patients of the MG-severe also had higher levels of the IL-6/IL-10 ratio than patients of the MG-moderate (P=0.020). Conclusion: In patients with PVI with increasing severity of varicose veins, the pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine balance is progressively disturbed toward the dominance of pro-inflammatory components. The control of these changes in patients is an important component of the design of therapeutic measures and prevention of morphofunctional disorders occurring with the progression of the disease.