Serum profile of melatonin, cytokines and cortisol in pregnant women with preeclampsia

• Grant number: 10/03846-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: March 01, 2011
• End date: March 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Maternal and Child Health
• Principal Investigator: Rodrigo Ruano
• Grantee: Eugênia Maria Assunção Salustiano
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Background: Preeclampsia (PE) consists in the development of arterial hypertension associated with significant proteinuria and/or general edema after 20 weeks of gestation. Its etiology remains unknown; however there are many etiopathogenetic theories which have been proposed so far. One of them is based on immunologic factors, in which they may be regulated by hormones such as cortisol and melatonin. Melatonin seems to have independent hypothalamic-axis secretion by the trophoblastic cells with possible interference in immunomediate reactions in pregnancy. Perhaps, these hormones may play a role in the etiopathogenesis of PE. Objectives: To evaluate the immune (cytokines) and hormonal (melatonin and cortisol) responses in pregnant women with PE. Methods: This is a prospective, non-randomized, case-control study, in which blood and urinal samples from normal and preeclamptic women will be analyzed in order to determine the profile of melatonin, cortisol and cytokines in both groups. This research will take place at "Clínica Obstétrica do Hospital das Clínicas, da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo", in which the patients Will be selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results will be compared among both groups by statistical analysis using t student, ANOVA test and Newman-Keuls tests.