Rubella, herpes simplex virus type 2 and preeclampsia.

BACKGROUND: Preeclampsia is a major health problem. Although, the pathophysiology of preeclampsia is not fully understood, there are recent studies on association between infections and preeclampsia. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between maternal seropositivity of rubella, Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and preeclampsia. METHOD: A case -controls study (90 women in each arm) was conducted at Saad Abualila Maternity Hospital, Khartoum, Sudan. The cases were women with preeclampsia and the controls were healthy pregnant women. Rubella and HSV-2 IgG antibodies were analysed in the maternal sera of all of the participants using ELISA. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the age, parity and gestational age between the two groups. Maternal serum IgG seropositivity for rubella (92.2% vs. 34.4%, P < 0.001) and HSV-2 (87.8% vs. 57.8%, P < 0.001) were significantly higher in preeclampsia than in the controls. There was no significant difference in the maternal serum IgM seropositivity for rubella (3.3% vs. 2.2%, P = 0.650) and HSV-2 (2.2% vs. 1.1%, P = 0.560). All the IgM seropositive cases were IgG seropositive too. In binary logistic regression women with rubella (OR = 4.93; 95% CI = 2.082-11.692, P < 0.001) and HSV-2 (OR = 5.54; 95% CI = 2.48-12.38, P < 0.001) IgG seropositivity were at higher risk for preeclampsia. CONCLUSION: In the current study rubella and HSV-2 IgG seropositivity is associated with preeclampsia. Preventive measure should be implemented.

Cytokine profiles in peripheral, placental and cord blood in an area of unstable malaria transmission in eastern Sudan.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the cytokine interactions that underlie both control and disease should be helpful when investigating the pathogenesis of malaria during pregnancy. Few data exists concerning pathogenesis of malaria during pregnancy in areas of unstable malaria transmission. OBJECTIVES: The study was conducted in New Halfa hospital, eastern Sudan, which is characterized by unstable malaria transmission to investigate the cytokine profiles in peripheral, placental and cord blood in parturient women. METHODS: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the concentrations of three cytokines, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-10, in sera from peripheral, placental and cord blood of 87 Sudanese women. RESULTS: The concentrations of these cytokines were significantly higher in peripheral, placental sera from uninfected women than in sera from infected women. IFN-gamma concentrations were significantly lower in the cord sera from uninfected women in comparison to the infected ones. The levels of these cytokines were not significantly different between the primiparae and multipare. Cord sera in all groups showed lower levels of these cytokines. Strong positive correlations were observed between peripheral and placental cytokines. CONCLUSION: The immune responses that occur in placental, peripheral and cord blood were influenced by the malaria infections, irrespective of the parity. The immune response during Plasmodium falciparum infection is not different in the peripheral and placental compartments, further studies are required.

Cytokines profiles in Sudanese women with preeclampsia.

BACKGROUND: Cytokine imbalance in preeclampsia may be one of the etiological factors for preeclampsia. OBJECTIVES: The study was conducted to investigate interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in preeclampsia. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the concentrations of these three pro-inflammatory cytokines in sera from 33 Sudanese women with preeclampsia (at presentation and 7 days later) and 32 women with normal pregnancy as a control group. RESULTS: The levels of IFN-gamma and IL-4 were slightly--not statistically significant--higher in the women with preeclampsia. IL-10 was significantly higher in the women with preeclampsia. Women with preeclampsia had significantly lower levels of IFN-gamma and IL-4 and significantly higher levels of IL-10 7 days later in comparison with the presenting levels. CONCLUSION: Thus, the significantly raised levels of IL-10 in women with preeclampsia suggest its role in pathogenesis of preeclampsia, and further research is needed.