Resumen

MOLINA VILCHEZ, Rafael et al. Factor de necrosis tumoral-alfa en el suero de embarazadas normales y preeclámpticas. Gac Méd Caracas [online]. 2001, vol.109, n.4, pp.526-531. ISSN 0367-4762.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha serum concentration were investigated in normal pregnancy during each trimester, in preeclamptic patients and in a healthy nonpregnant control group, using a double antibody enzymatic immunoanalysis technique. Cytokine levels showed a progressive and statistically significant fall throughout normal pregnancy. Preeclamptic women had significantly higher values than the third trimester group. Findings point to a necessary decrease of this cytokine activity in healthy pregnancy, suggest an important role of this molecule in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia, and open the possibility of utilizing its serum quantification as a prognostic disease marker.

Palabras clave : Cytokines; Tumor necrosis factor-alpha; Preeclampsia.