Abstract

RODRIGUEZ ALVAREZ, Milena et al. Evaluation of the serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress markers in term pregnant women. Rev Cubana Endocrinol [online]. 2005, vol.16, n.2, pp. 0-0. ISSN 1561-2953.

The knowledge about the role of the immune system and of oxidative stress in normal gestation, can contribute to go deep into the physiopathological mechanisms and in the treatment of diseases associated with pregnancy. An observational descriptive study was carried out in order to describe differences among the concentrations and the plasmatic detectable levels of interleukine 6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, nitric oxide and glutathione peroxidase enzyme in ten healthy term pregnant women that were compared with 18 non-pregnant women. Detectable interleukine 6 levels were found in 80 % of the pregnant women and only in 22.2 % of the control group for a Chi square value of 8,763 (p<0,005). The difference in the detectable levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha between both groups was not significant (p = 0.515) for a Chi square value of 0.016. There were no significant differences between the means of both groups for nitric oxide and glutathione peroxidase. To conclude, it was observed a higher detectable serum level of interleukin 6, which was related to its producing sources increased during normal pregnancy, the favored Th2 pattern and the activation of the maternal innate immunity.  

Keywords : Cytokines; IL-6; TNF; pregnancy; oxidative stress; nitric oxide; gpx.

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