Activated Macrophages in Preeclampsia

Abstract

Neopterin (serum. urine) and other markers of macrophage activation (lL-1 IL-6, TNF alpha) were compared in preeclamptic patients and healthy pregnant controls. The prepartal urine neopterin median in preeclampsia (337 μmol/mol creat.) was 33% higher than that of healthy pregnant controls (253 μmol/mol creat.). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups (p = 0.08). In plasma there were no statistically significant differences in cytokine concentrations between healthy pregnant and nonpregnant controls with the exception of neopterin. that showed higher values in pregnant women (p = O.OO4). Elevated levels of IL-6. TNF-alpha and neopterin were observed in hypertensive women. Differences to healthy pregnant controls were statistically significant for IL-6 (p = 0.008). TNF-alpha (p = 0.009) and neopterin (p=0.04) and were more pronounced in severe forms of the disease. These three parameters of monocytic origin showed positive significant correlations amongst each other. A participation of macrophages in the pathomechanism of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy can thus be assumed.

Keywords

• macrophages
• pregnancy
• preeclampsia
• neopterin