Circulating cytokines during early pregnancy in women with recurrent spontaneous abortion: decreased TNF-alpha levels in abortion with normal chromosome karyotype.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present study was to assess whether or not serum cytokine concentrations during early pregnancy are related to the subsequent outcomes in women with recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA).

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

Serum concentrations of five cytokines--tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interferon (IFN)-gamma, interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6, and IL-10--were measured by ELISA methods. Sera were collected from 73 RSA women at 6-7 weeks of gestation. Of the 73 pregnancies, 10 subsequently ended in abortion with normal fetal chromosome karyotype (AbNK), 12 ended in abortion with abnormal karyotype (AbAK), and the other 51 pregnancies ended in live birth (Lb).

RESULTS

The serum TNF-alpha concentration in women with AbNK (mean 0 pg/ml) was lower than that in women with subsequent AbAK (0.06 pg/ml) (p < 0.05). The TNF-alpha positive percentage among women with AbNK (0%) was also lower than that among women with AbAK (50.0%) (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Decreased serum TNF-alpha concentration during early pregnancy might be associated with subsequent abortion in RSA women.