Objective: To measure serum tumor necrosis factor- alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-
6(IL-6) in Iraqi women with first trimester missed and threatened miscarriage and
compare their levels with those of normal pregnancy. Methods: A case control study
was conducted from November 2009 to March 2010 at Obstetric and Gynecology
Department of Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq. Samples were
obtained from 62 pregnant women in the first trimester: eighteen women with
threatened miscarriage (group A), 22 with missed miscarriage (group B), 22
apparently healthy pregnant (group C) (positive controls) matched in age and body
mass index (BMI) and 23 non-pregnant women (group D) (negative controls). The
concentrations of serum TNF-α and IL-6 were determined by an enzyme
immunometric assay (EIA). Results: Serum TNF-α levels in group B showed a highly
significant increase compared to group A and D (17.68±2.90 pg/ml., 9.75±1.66
pg/ml. and. 4.41±1.23 pg/ml., p=0.039 and p=0.0001 respectively). A significant
decrease in mean serum IL-6 in group B compared to group C (3.73±0.65 pg/ml.
versus 6.99±1.02 pg/ml., p=0.014). No significant correlation was found between
serum levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in all subjects. Conclusion: TNF-α might play an
important role in the process of missed and threatened miscarriage and IL-6 may be
an important factor for healthy pregnancy.