Mediators of Inflammation (Jan 2002)
Cytokine secretion by decidual lymphocytes in transient hypertension of pregnancy and pre-eclampsia
Abstract
Background: Transient hypertension (TH) and pre-eclampsia (PE) are believed to have different patho-physiology. However, 15-25% of pregnant women initially diagnosed as having TH develop PE. To clarify the immuno-pathogenetical connections between the two syndromes, we studied the pattern of T helper cell (Th)1/Th2 cytokine balance disturbances existing inside maternal decidua in normal pregnancy (NP) and pregnancies complicated with TH and PE.