Correlation of serum cytokine and adhesion molecule determinations with pregnancy outcome

To test the hypothesis that serum levels of T helper [Th]-1-type (interleukin [IL]-2, interferon [IFN]-gamma, tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-alpha) and Th2-type (IL-10) cytokines and the soluble intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) are associated with pregnancy outcome in women with a history of recurrent spontaneous abortion.

Peripheral serum was obtained from 104 women between 29 and 42 years of age with a history of two or more (range two to 12, mode four) prior pregnancy losses. Levels of IL-2, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-10, and sICAM-1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in sera from 29 of the 104 individuals when not pregnant and 92 of these women when pregnant between 6 and 7 weeks of gestation. Seventeen women provided samples before and during pregnancy.

Interleukin-2, IFN-gamma, 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 correlate with pregnancy outcome. In contrast, sICAM-1 was demonstrable in all sera. However, no differences were observed between pregnant and nonpregnant women. Similarly, there was no difference in serum levels of sICAM-1 between women who subsequently aborted (n = 13) and those who successfully carried to term (n = 15). Neither patient age nor number of prior losses significantly correlated with serum cytokine and sICAM-1 levels.

Peripheral serum levels of selected Th1-type and Th2-type cytokines and sICAM-1 were not associated with pregnancy outcome in women with a history of recurrent spontaneous abortion.