Evaluation of serum levels of interleukin-10, interleukin-11 and leukemia inhibitory factor in differentiation of eutopic and tubal ectopic pregnancies.

PURPOSE OF STUDY: To investigate whether serum levels of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), interleukin 10 (IL-10) and interleukin 11 (IL-11) are different in reference to the site of implantation.

METHODS

Seventeen patients with laparoscopic diagnoses of tubal ectopic pregnancy (EP) and 19 patients with intrauterine pregnancy delivering healthy term neonates (IUP) were prospectively evaluated for LIF, IL-10 and IL-11 levels. The data were compared by using the Student's t-test, chi-square test, Kruskal-Wallis and the Mann-Whitney U test with Bonferroni's correction (p < 0.05) as appropriate.

RESULTS

A statistically significant difference was observed in serum LIF levels between the EP and IUP groups (p = 0.002). Ranges of LIF were 15-300 and 70-1200 ng/ml for the IUP and EP groups, respectively. There were no significant differences between groups in terms of IL-10 and IL-11 levels.

CONCLUSION

LIF, but not IL-10 or IL-11, levels may be increased in early tubal ectopic pregnancies when compared to normal intrauterine pregnancies.