The presence, severity, and onset of preeclampsia is associated with maternal interleukin-23 level: A case-control study

Abstract Background: Scientific evidence support that imbalance between inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines play a critical role in preeclampsia (PE). Objective: To investigate the relationship between the maternal serum level of interleukin (IL)-23, a pro-inflammatory cytokine, PE and its severity risk was investigated. Materials and Methods: The case-control study included a total of 145 women counting 75 PE cases, 35 healthy pregnant and 35 healthy non-pregnant controls from Zahedan, southeast of Iran. The maternal levels of IL-23 in circulation were determined via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The maternal serum levels of IL-23 were increased in PE and its 2 subgroups severe PE and mild PE, so that these increases were significant in PE and severe PE, but not in mild PE compared with the controls (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, p = 0.08, respectively). Besides, the maternal IL-23 serum level was statically significant in the early onset PE, but not in the late onset-PE group compared to healthy pregnant controls (p < 0.001, p = 0.46 respectively). Conclusion: The results of our study showed a positive association between IL-23 level and PE, especially in severe type and early onset PE, which suggests that IL-23 may be involved in the pathogenesis of this systemic syndrome

THE STUDY OF ABNORMAL ULTRASOUND FINDINGS IN ABORTION CASES REFERRING TO THE AMIR-ALMOMENIN MATERNITY HOSPITAL, ZABOL, FEBRUARY AND MARCH 2017

Abortion includes removing pregnancy products before the first half of pregnancy (week 20 of pregnancy). Having the prevalence of %10, it is known as the most common pregnancy complication. The present research aims at studying the abnormal ultrasound findings in abortion cases referring Amir-al-Momenin Maternity Hospital of Zabol in February and March of 2017. This study is a descriptive-retrospective one conducted on 80 patients; the abortion was confirmed in the patients by applying ultrasound, and gestational sac was studied for at most 12 weeks through using Crown-rump length and 10 mm fetus. After acquiring the medical history, vaginal ultrasound was conducted by a female sonographer. The data collected were analyzed by using SPSS 18. The patients’ mean age was 25±4.12; the highest prevalence was observed for ages 20-25, and the lowest prevalence was for ages 38-43. Based on LMP or ultrasound, the gestational age was determined to be less than 12 weeks in 69.8 percent of the abortion cases, and in 30.2 percent of the cases, it was 12-20 weeks. The findings indicated that in 37.3 percent of the patients, their first pregnancy led to abortion; 25.5 percent of the patients experienced this in their second pregnancy, 19.3 percent in their third pregnancy, and 18 percent in their fourth pregnancy. The findings also indicated that 50.8 percent of the patients had no history of abortion The findings of the present study indicate ever-increasing importance of early diagnosis of pregnancy in the first pregnancy weeks i.e. less than 12 weeks in patients with no history of disease. It is recommended that similar studies with larger statistical population be conducted in other areas, so that this procedure will be studied in more detail. Key Words: Abnormal, Ultrasound Findings, Zabol, Ira