Distinct First Trimester Cytokine Profiles for Gestational Hypertension and Preeclampsia

Abstract

Objective: Gestational hypertension and preeclampsia involve dysregulated maternal inflammatory responses to pregnancy, but whether such responses differ between the disorders has not been determined. We aimed to investigate disease-specific early pregnancy serum cytokine profiles of women subsequently developing gestational hypertension or preeclampsia for new insight into the underlying pathogeneses and differences between the disorders.

Approach and results: The study cohort consisted of 548 pregnant Norwegian women who were either multiparous with previous gestational hypertension or preeclampsia or were nulliparous. Maternal sera at gestational weeks 11(0)-13(6) were assayed for 27 cytokines, C-reactive protein, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, triglyceride, creatinine, calcium, uric acid, and placental growth factor. Compared with normotensive women, women with both hypertensive conditions presented an atherogenic lipid profile at early gestation, but only those later developing gestational hypertension had significantly higher serum levels of interleukin (IL)-5 and IL-12. Comparing the 2 hypertensive pregnancy disorders, women subsequently developing gestational hypertension had higher serum levels of IL-1β, IL-5, IL-7, IL-8, IL-13, basic fibroblast growth factor, and vascular endothelial growth factor than the women subsequently developing preeclampsia.

Conclusions: This study identifies early pregnancy differences in serum cytokine profiles for gestational hypertension and preeclampsia.

Keywords: cytokines; first trimester; gestational hypertension; inflammation; preeclampsia.