Abstract
Pregnancy is a biological process whereby complex cytokine networks play an important role especially in complications, such as threatened miscarriage. This study assessed the serum levels of pro (TNF-alpha and IL-2) and anti-inflammatory (IL-4 and IL-10) cytokines in threatened miscarriage in pregnant women within Owerri metropolis. A total of 140 women were recruited for this study; 60 pregnant test subjects, 40 pregnant subjects and 40 non-pregnant subjects as control groups. Serum levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) alpha, Interleukin-2 (IL-2), Interleukin-4 (IL-4) and Interleukin-10 (IL-10) were determined using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay techniques. Data were expressed as median and analyzed using Mann-Whitney test and Kruskal Wallis test. Anthropometric data and others were obtained using standard methods. P values ≤0.05. Demographic studies showed that among the pregnant subjects, 79% are primigravida while 21% are multigravida. Among all the subjects, 18.6% were of the higher social class, 51.4% middle class and 30% lower class. The results showed a significant increase in the median values of the pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokines of the pregnant test subjects, when compared with the control groups (p
Highlights
Pregnancy, known as gestation, is the time during which one or more offspring develops inside a woman [1]
The median values of the ages of the pregnant test group (A) 30.0years, pregnant control group (B) 29.5years and non-pregnant control group (C) 29.0years showed no significant difference (p=0.844), likewise their ages when compared with one another; A vs. B (p=0.698), A vs. C (p=0.577) and B vs. C (p=0.904)
Among the pregnant control group, 17.5% were of the higher class, 57.5% were of the middle class and 25% were of the lower class
Summary
Known as gestation, is the time during which one or more offspring develops inside a woman [1]. A multiple pregnancy involves more than one offspring, such as with twins [2]. Pregnancy can occur by sexual intercourse or assisted reproductive technology [1]. Childbirth typically occurs around 40 weeks from the last menstrual period (LMP). This is just over nine lunar months, where each month is about 291⁄2 days [3]. When measured from conception it is about 38 weeks. Symptoms of early pregnancy may include missed periods, tender breasts, nausea, vomiting, hunger, and frequent urination [4]. Pregnancy is typically divided into three trimesters. The first trimester is from week one through 12 and includes conception. The second trimester is from week 13 through 28.
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