Determination of the level of interleukin 6 in pregnant women with preeclampsia

Introduction: Pre-eclampsia represents a potentially life-threatening condition during pregnancy that significantly contributes to maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Numerous studies within the fields of obstetrics and gynecology have documented elevated concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in women diagnosed with preeclampsia, suggesting that this cytokine may play a critical role in the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the hypertension associated with this condition. Objectives: The aim of this investigation was to conduct a case-control study aimed at comparing the levels of IL-6 between pregnant women diagnosed with preeclampsia and those with normal pregnancies, in order to ascertain the presence of elevated IL-6 levels among the former group. Patients and Methods: This case-control study comprised 384 pregnant women at a gestational age exceeding 20 weeks, who were already diagnosed as preeclamptic and designated as cases, alongside a control group of 384 women devoid of any signs of hypertension or proteinuria during their pregnancies, matched for maternal age, body mass index (BMI), and gestational age. For all participants, IL-6 levels were quantified using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) that employs the Sandwich-ELISA methodology for the in vitro determination of human IL-6 concentrations in serum. Additionally, hemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), white blood cell (WBC) count, and platelets count were assessed utilizing a hematology analyzer based on the Coulter Principle. Furthermore, age, body mass index, gestational age, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure were meticulously recorded. Results: Our findings revealed a statistically significant elevation in the levels of IL-6 among pregnant women with preeclampsia compared to those with normal pregnancy (P<0.001). Moreover, IL-6 exhibited a positive correlation with diastolic blood pressure (P=0.001). Conclusion: Our study indicates that IL-6 levels are markedly elevated during pregnancy in women diagnosed with preeclampsia.