Inflammatory Markers and Preeclampsia: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Immunology
• Biomarker Research

Background:

• Preeclampsia (PE) is a significant pregnancy complication affecting 5%-10% of pregnancies.
• The etiology of PE remains unclear, but inflammation and endothelial dysfunction are associated with its development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review existing evidence on the association between PE and inflammatory markers.
• To assess the utility of these markers for predicting or early identification of PE in clinical settings.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review conducted following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.
• Searched MEDLINE/OVID and Cumulative Index for Nursing and Allied Health databases with no publication year restrictions.
• Reviewed 73 articles, examining 57 unique inflammatory markers.

Main Results:

• C-reactive protein and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor alpha) showed the most support as potential markers for PE surveillance.
• These markers appear most relevant during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.

Conclusions:

• Currently, no single inflammatory marker is recommended for routine clinical prediction or identification of PE.
• Further research is needed to evaluate panels of these four inflammatory markers, potentially combined with clinical risk factors, for clinical application.