Clinical characteristics and laboratory data of pre-eclampsia patients with and without in vitro fertilization embryo transfer treatment

Background: Pre-eclampsia affects around 2-10% pregnancies in the world. In vitro fertilization embryo transfer (IVF) pregnancies are associated with a 2.7-fold risk of pre-eclampsia. MethodsIn our retrospective study, 20 pre-eclampsia patients with IVF treatment (PE with IVF group) and 20 matched pre-eclampsia controls with spontaneous conception (PE group) were enrolled. We also collected several fresh decidua tissue and cord blood specimens to determine functional changes of innate immune cells at maternal-fetal interface using flow cytometry assays. ResultsThere were no obvious differences in pregnancy outcomes between 2 groups. However, maternal prealbumin (PA) level was significantly decreased while creatinine (Cr) and uric acid (UA) levels were significantly elevated in PE with IVF group. Although levels of maternal alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and cystatin C (CysC) did not differ between 2 groups, they were both abnormally elevated, exceeding the normal reference range. Moreover, significant elevations of IFN-γ and TNF-α secretions were observed in both decidual NK cells and γδT cells of pre-eclampsia patients with IVF treatment. In cord blood, productions of IFN-γ and TNF-α were only increased in the NK cells of pre-eclampsia patients with IVF treatment. ConclusionThe close surveillance for clinical features of this special pre-eclampsia population is strongly warranted.