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

• Grant number: 12/07762-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: August 01, 2012
• End date: July 31, 2014
• 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
• Associated scholarship(s): 13/17432-0 - Influence of melatonin and inflammation in human placenta in normal and preeclamptic pregnancies, BE.EP.DD

Abstract

Preeclampsia consists in a maternal arterial hypertension associated with significant proteinuria and general edema that appears after 20 weeks of gestation. Its etiology remains unclear, but there are many etiopathogenic theories that have been proposed. One of these theories is based on immunological factors, which may be regulated by hormonal actions such as cortisol and melatonin. In addition, it seems that melatonin may have an independent hypothalamic secretory regulation by trophoblastic cells with an immune-modulator activity during pregnancy. Our hypothesis is that this hormone may play a role in the etio-pathogenic process in preeclampsia. Objectives: to evaluate the maternal serical profile of hormones and cytokines in patients with preeclampsia and normal pregnancies, in order to study the pituitary immune axis in this disease. Methods: this is a prospective case-control study, in which maternal blood and urine samples from normal pregnant women and preeclamptic patients will be analyzed in order to dosage the melatonin, cortisol and cytokines. Statistical analysis will be performed using Student-t test and ANOVA with post-test analysis using Bonferroni test. (AU)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

SALUSTIANO, Eugênia Maria Assunção. Serum profile of melatonin, cytokines and cortisol in pregnant women with preeclampsia. 2014. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Medicina (FM/SBD) São Paulo.