Evaluation of maternal and umbilical serum TNF levels in preeclamptic pregnancies in the intrauterine normal and growth-restricted fetus

Author： Laskowska Marzena Leszczyńska-Gorzelak Bożena Laskowska Katarzyna Oleszczuk Jan

Publisher： Informa Healthcare

ISSN： 1476-4954

Source： Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, Vol.19, Iss.6, 2006-06, pp. : 347-351

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Abstract

Objective. The aim of this study was to carry out a comparative analysis of the maternal and umbilical cord TNF serum levels in pregnancies complicated by severe preeclampsia with normal intrauterine fetal growth, in preeclamptic pregnancies with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), and in normotensive pregnant patients. Patients and methods. The study was carried out on eight patients with severe preeclampsia complicated by IUGR and 18 preeclamptic patients with normal intrauterine fetal growth. The control group consisted of 18 healthy normotensive patients with singleton uncomplicated pregnancies. Maternal and umbilical serum TNF concentrations were estimated using a sandwich ELISA assay. Results and conclusions. Pregnant women with severe preeclampsia had significantly higher maternal and umbilical serum TNF levels than those in the normotensive controls. Our findings and other reports indicate that TNF may participate in the pathogenesis and sequelae of preeclampsia with and without IUGR. The results of excessive umbilical serum activity of tumor necrosis factor  (TNF) in preeclamptic pregnancy complicated by intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) may suggest additional changes and dysfunction of the placental–fetal unit and deterioration of placental function, leading to fetal hypotrophia in the course of preeclampsia.