Background: Serum chemokines have variable functions related to angiogenesis that might be implicated
in adverse pregnancy outcomes. Their assessment in toxoplasmosis during antenatal care will reduce fetal
and neonatal morbidity.
Objective: To evaluate the distinguishing ability of chemokines in predicting the outcome of toxoplasmosis
and its-related pregnancy complications in vulnerable primigravida.
Patients and Methods: The study included three groups of pregnant women; 60 high risk primigravida
(A), 60 low risk primigravida (B) for criteria for toxoplasmosis, and 60 multigravida (C) who had a history
of toxoplasmosis-related pregnancy complications. Blood samples were obtained to assess seropositivity
for anti-T. gondii Igs, M and G and for ELISA estimation of interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-X-C chemokine-ligand-9
(CXCL9), chemotactic-competent motif ligand-2, and -5 (CCL2 and CCL5). Ability of the estimated
parameters to predict the reported pregnancy complications was evaluated.
Results: In group A, the number of positive samples was higher and showed significantly higher CXCL9
levels than group B samples. In seropositive patients, CCL2 and 5 levels were significantly higher in group < br />A, while in group B samples, only serum CCL2 levels were significantly higher. In addition, CCL2 levels
were higher in IgG or IgG/IgM of group B than in group A subjects. Serum IL-6 levels were significantly
higher in seropositive than seronegative women and in IgM than in IgG or IgG/IgM samples of both A
and B groups. In group C with pregnancy complications, especially spontaneous abortion (SA), early
pregnancy loss (EPL) and preterm labor were the most frequently encountered complications. Pregnancy
complications were significantly frequent among group A women. While high CXCL9 levels alone could
predict pregnancy complications, high IL-6 levels could predict seropositivity, and seropositivity might
predict SA or EPL.
Conclusion: Serum CXCL9 and CCL2 levels could distinguish women vulnerable to developing pregnancy
complications. High CXCL9 levels could predict SA or EPL, while coupled with high IL-6 levels it could
distinguish seropositivity in primigravida.