The Impact of COVID-19 Infection On The Cytokine Profile of Pregnant Women: A Prospective Case-Control Study

Tanacan, Atakan; Yazihan, Nuray; Ahmet Erol, Seyit; Taner Anuk, Ali; Didem Yucel Yetiskin, Fatma; Biriken, Derya; Ozgu-Erdinc, A.Seval; Levent Keskin, Huseyin; Moraloglu Tekin, Ozlem; Sahin, Dilek

Objective To compare the levels of various cytokines between pregnant women with confirmed coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection and pregnant women without any defined risk factor. Materials and Methods Pregnant women with confirmed COVID-19 infection (study group)(n=90) were prospectively compared to a gestational age-matched control group of pregnant women without any defined risk factors (n=90). Demographic features, clinical characteristics, laboratory parameters, interferon-gamma (IFN γ), interleukin (IL-2), IL-6, IL-10, and IL-17 levels were compared between the groups. Additionally, a correlation analysis was performed in the study group for the assessment of IFN γ, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-17 levels with disease severity and CRP levels. Results Study group had significantly higher pregnancy complication rate, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, ferritin, D-dimer, lactate dehydrogenase, IFN γ, and IL-6 values (p<0.05). On the other hand, the control group had significantly higher hemoglobin, leukocyte, platelet, lymphocyte, IL-2, IL-10, and IL-17 values (p<0.05). Statistically significant differences were found between the groups for IFN γ, IL-2, IL-10, and IL-17 values between the trimesters (p<0.05). Statistically significant positive correlations were found for IFN γ and IL-6 with disease severity (r=0.41 and p<0.001 for IFN γ and r=0.58 and p<0.001 for IL-6). On the other hand, a moderate negative correlation for IL-2 and a weak negative correlation for IL-10 were present (r= -0.62 and p<0.001 for IL-2 and r= -0.19 and p=0.01 for IL-10). A statistically significant positive moderate correlation was found between IL-6 and CRP (r=0.40 and p<0.001) Conclusion COVID-19 infection seems to have an impact on the cytokine profile of pregnant women varying according to pregnancy trimesters and cytokine levels seem to be correlated with disease severity.