Effect of preeclampsia on human milk cytokine levels

Introduction: Preeclampsia (PE) is a systemic inflammatory disease, and its effect on human milk immune components is poorly understood.

Objective: To investigate whether PE affects human milk cytokine levels.

Methods: This was a prospective observational study involving mothers diagnosed with PE and with singleton pregnancy with no fetal malformation. The following cases were excluded: diabetes, chorioamnionitis, use of illicit drugs and alcohol, mastitis and congenital infection. In total, 228 mothers were studied and divided into two groups matched by gestational age: PE (n?=?114) and normotensive (control, n?=?114). Colostrum was collected from 24–72?hours postpartum, and mature milk was collected at the end of the first month. Cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, and TNF-α) were measured using flow cytometry. A generalized linear model with a gamma distribution was used to analyze the differences between groups versus time interaction.

Results: The mean gestational age was 36 weeks. Increased IL-1 and IL-6 levels and reduced IL-12 levels in the colostrum were detected in PE, while in the mature milk, the IL-6 and IL-8 levels were lower than those of the control group.

Conclusions: PE is associated with increased levels of inflammatory cytokines in colostrum and decreased levels in mature milk.