Serum IL 6 and umbilical artery Doppler indices in pre-eclamptic patients

Abstract

Objectives: To study the changes in serum IL 6 levels in pre-eclamptic patients and to
detect any correlation between these changes and changes in the umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry.
Methods: In Shatby Hospital, 100 pregnant women, at or beyond 32 weeks were selected and divided into three groups: group A with severe pre-eclampsia, group B with mild pre-eclampsia, and group C with normal pregnancy as control. Measurement of maternal serum IL 6 using ELISA and umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry was done. Kruskal–Wallis, Mann–Whitney U tests, and Spearman’s rank correlation tests were used.
Results: A statistical significant difference (p< 0.001) was found regarding serum IL-6 level. Using ROC curve for IL 6 levels, it is suggested that IL 6 of 0.82 ng/dl is a cutoff level to early diagnose mild pre-eclampsia (with sensitivity 87.5% and specificity 100%). A statistical significant correlation was found between maternal serum IL 6 levels and S/D ratio and RI in severe pre-eclamptic group (p< 0.05).
Conclusion: Maternal serum IL 6>0.82 ng/dl can be implicated as an early laboratory diagnosis of mild pre-eclampsia. The significant correlation between maternal serum IL 6 levels and Doppler velocimetry supports both the immunologic and the systemic endothelial dysfunction theories of pre-eclampsia.