Biotherapeutics and Bioanalytical Techniques

Statement of Problem: Eclampsia (EC) is the life-threatening occurrence of convulsion(s) in association with hypertension and proteinuria in human pregnancy. It has remained a signifi cant public health threat, contributing to signifi cant maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality in Nigeria, though the mechanism of the disease is not fully understood and there is no cure, it is widely held that an immunological mechanism is involved. Disturbance of the cytokines equilibrium has been accused for many pathological disorders including EC.

Subject & Method: Enzyme linked immunoassay (ELSA) was used to measure levels of pro-infl ammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL -2), anti-infl ammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-10) and PSG-1 in the peripheral blood of patients with eclampsia (EC; n=38), normal healthy pregnant women (PC; n=25) and compared with healthy non pregnant controls (NPC; n=25).

Findings: Th e overall result of TNF-α (2.34 ±0.13 pg/ml) in EC was signifi cantly higher than the mean values (2.25±0.07 pg/ ml and 2.24±0.10 pg/ml) in PC and NPC respectively. Furthermore, EC had higher TNF-α mean value compared with NPC (P<0.05). Th ere was no statistical diff erence in mean IL-2 value between EC (1.69±0.17 pg/ml), PC (1.71±0.0.09 pg/ml) and NPC (1.72±0.13 pg/ml) (P>0.05). Th e mean value of IL-10 was lower in EC (1.28±0.54 pg/ml) compared with PC (1.58±0.61 pg/ml) and NPC (2.06±0.08 pg/ml). No signifi cant diff erence in IL-4 mean value exist between EC (2.45±0.10 pg/ml) and NPC (2.45 pg/ml) (P>0.05) but signifi cant diff erence exist between EC and NPC (2.40±0.06 pg/ml) (P<0.05). Th e serum PSG-1 levels in EC (2.53±0.11 pg/ml) and PC (2.56±0.03 pg/ml) were similar and signifi cantly higher than in NPC (0.06±0.020 pg/ml) P<0.05.

Conclusion: While a pro-infl ammatory cytokine environment was demonstrated in EC, and decreased anti-infl ammatory reactivity, EC was not as associated with low levels of PSG-1. Further research is advocated to discover how anti-infl ammatory cytokines could be exploited as a therapeutic agent for women at high risk of eclampsia.