Interleukin-8 concentrations in preeclamptic and healthy normotensive pregnant patients

Objective: To compare concentrations of interleukin-8 in patients with preeclampsia and healthy normotensive pregnant women. Material and methods: One hundred patients were selected. Fifty preeclamptic patients were selected as cases (group A) and 50 healthy pregnant women with a similar age and body mass index to patients in group A were selected as controls (group B). Blood samples for interleukin-8 were collected in all patients before labor and immediately after diagnosis in the study group. Results: There were no significant differences in maternal age, gestational age or body mass index at sample collection (p=ns). Statistically significant differences were found between groups in mean values of systolic and diastolic blood pressure (p<0.05). Interleukin-8 concentrations were significantly higher in group A (54.8 +/- 13.6 pg/ml) than in group B (33.6 +/- 6.3 pg/ml, p<0.05) and there was a strong, positive and significant correlation with values of systolic blood pressure (r=0.715; p<0.05) and diastolic blood pressure (r=0.640; p<0.05). Conclusion: Interleukin-8 concentrations were significantly higher in preeclamptic patients than in healthy normotensive pregnant women. (C) 2009 Elsevier Espana, S.L. All rights reserved.