OBJECTIVE
Comparative evaluation of the content of acute-phase proteins: lactoferrin, alpha-2-macroglobulin, alpha-1-antitrypsin, C-reactive protein and proinflammatory cytokines (tumour necrosis factor α, interleukin-6, interleukin-8 and interferon-γ) in the blood of pregnant women with different variants of the course of chlamydial infection.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
We examined 125 pregnant women with chlamydial infection at gestational age 37—41 weeks. Group 1 included 83 pregnant women with acute course of chlamydial infection; 39 gave birth to children with congenital infectious diseases and 44 had healthy children. Group 2 included 42 pregnant women carrying Chlamydia trachomatis: 22 patients gave birth to children with congenital infectious disease and 20 had healthy children. In serum, acute-phase proteins and proinflammatory cytokines were determined by quantitative rocket immunoelectrophoresis and immunoturbidimetry.
RESULTS
It was found that the concentration of alpha-2-macroglobulin, lactoferrin, alpha-1-antitrypsin was increased in the blood serum of pregnant women of the 1st group who gave birth to children with congenital infectious diseases in comparison with that of pregnant women of the 1st group who gave birth to healthy children and pregnant women of the comparison group. Group 2 pregnant women who gave birth to children with congenital infectious disease had increased concentrations of lactoferrin and alpha-1-antitrypsin, while concentrations of alpha-2-macroglobulin were not significantly different from those of the comparison group. The content of tumor necrosis factor α was elevated in groups 1 and 2, irrespective of the outcome of labor. Interleukin-6 levels were also elevated in chlamydial infection, except in group 1 pregnant women who gave birth to children with congenital infectious diseases, where they were reduced.
CONCLUSION
Determination of serum concentrations of alpha-1-antitrypsin, lactoferrin, tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin-6 in pregnant women allows to predict the condition of the newborn at any variant of the course of chlamydial infection. In acute chlamydial infection and birth of children with congenital infectious disease, an increase in the content of acute-phase proteins — lactoferrin, alpha-1-antitrypsin and alpha-2-macroglobulin, and a decrease in the level of interleukin-6 are prognostically significant. Birth of children with congenital infectious disease when carrying chlamydial infection is associated with an increase in the concentration of lactoferrin and alpha-1-antitrypsin. The level of tumor necrosis factor α is elevated in all variants of the course of chlamydial infection and birth.
