Interleucin 1 beta concentrations in preeclamptic patients and healthy normotensive pregnant women

Objective: To compare concentrations of interleukin-1 beta in patients with preeclampsia and healthy normotensive pregnant women. Material and methods: One hundred patients were selected. Fifty preeclamptic patients were selected as cases (group A) and 50 healthy pregnant women with a similar age and body mass index to those in the study group were selected as controls (group B). Blood samples for interleukin-1 beta determination were collected in all patients before labor and immediately after diagnosis in the study group. Results: No significant differences were found in maternal age, gestational age or body mass index at sample collection (p=ns). Significant differences were observed between groups in mean values of systolic and diastolic blood pressure (p<0.05). Interleukin-1 beta concentrations were significantly higher in group A than in group B (18.2 +/- 7.3 pg/ml compared with 13.6 +/- 5.4 pg/ml; p<0.05) and showed a slight, positive and significant correlation with values of systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure (p<0.05). Conclusions: Concentrations of interleukin-1 beta were significantly higher in preeclamptic patients than in healthy normotensive pregnant women. (C) 2009 Elsevier Espana, S.L. All rights reserved.