Effect of preeclampsia on human milk cytokine levels.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Preeclampsia (PE) is a systemic inflammatory disease, and its effect on human milk immune components is poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether PE affects human milk cytokine levels. METHODS: This was a prospective observational study involving mothers diagnosed with PE and with singleton pregnancy with no fetal malformation. The following cases were excluded diabetes, chorioamnionitis, use of illicit drugs and alcohol, mastitis and congenital infection. In total, 228 mothers were studied and divided into two groups matched by gestational age PE (n = 114) and normotensive (control, n = 114). Colostrum was collected from 24-72 hours postpartum, and mature milk was collected at the end of the first month. Cytokines (IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, and TNF-α) were measured using flow cytometry. A generalized linear model with a gamma distribution was used to analyze the differences between groups versus time interaction. RESULTS: The mean gestational age was 36 weeks. Increased IL-1 and IL-6 levels and reduced IL-12 levels in the colostrum were detected in PE, while in the mature milk, the IL-6 and IL-8 levels were lower than those of the control group. CONCLUSIONS: PE is associated with increased levels of inflammatory cytokines in colostrum and decreased levels in mature milk.