CORRELATION OF SERUM CYTOKINE AND ADHESION MOLECULE DETERMINATIONS WITH PREGNANCY OUTCOME

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that serum levels of T helper [Th]-1 -type (interleukin [IL]-2, interferon [IFN]-gamma, tumor necrosis fact or [TNF]-alpha) and Th2-type (IL-10) cytokines and the soluble intrace llular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) are associated with pregnancy out come in women with a history of recurrent spontaneous abortion. METHOD S: Peripheral serum was obtained from 104 women between 29 and 42 year s of age with a history, of two or more (range two to 12, mode four) p rior pregnancy losses. Levels of IL-2, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-10, an d sICAM-1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in sera f rom 29 of the 104 individuals when not pregnant and 92 of these women when pregnant between 6 and 7 week of gestation. Seventeen women provi ded samples before and during pregnancy. RESULTS: Interleukin-2, IFN-g amma, and IL-10 were not detectable in any serum sample. Low levels of TNF-alpha were detected in 46 sera from pregnant women but did not co rrelate with pregnancy outcome. In contrast, sICAM-1 was demonstrable in all sera. However, no differences were observed between pregnant an d nonpregnant women. Similarly, then teas no difference in serum level s of sICAM-1 between women who subsequently aborted (n = 13) and those who successfully carried to term (n = 15). Neither patient age nov nu mber of prior losses significantly correlated with serum cytokine and sICAM-1 levels. CONCLUSION: Peripheral serum levels of selected Th1-ty pe and Th2-type cytokines and sICAM-1 were not associated with pregnan cy outcome in women with a history of recurrent spontaneous abortion.