Hormonal and immunological features of women with cervical insuffciency

Abstract

Aim. To determine the level of estradiol, progesterone, IgA and IgG to these hormones, and IgA/IgG to benzo[a]pyrene in women with cervical weakness.Materials and Methods. We retrospectively analysed case histories of 200 women, including 100 patients with cervical weakness defned by an ultrasound examination at 18-21 weeks of gestation and 100 patients without cervical weakness. Serum estradiol, progesterone, IgA and IgG to these hormones, and IgA/IgG to benzo[a]pyrene were measured at 18-21 weeks of gestation using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results. Patients with cervical weakness had a higher level of serum estradiol [12477 (1000; 31600) pg/mL], IgA to progesterone [2.15 (0.6; 8.3) a.u.] and benzo[a]pyrene [4.74 (0.4; 13.9) a.u.], IgG to estradiol [8.64 (1.2; 23.5) a.u.], progesterone [5.29 (0.2; 20.1) a.u.], and benzo[a] pyrene [11.89 (1.1; 28.5) a.u.] as compared with those without [10946 (2999; 19480) pg/mL, p = 0.034]; [1.42 (0.6; 2.6) a.u., p = 0.034]; [3.22 (0.7; 5.7) a.u., p = 0.032]; [4.78 (0.7; 8.7) a.u., p < 0.0001]; [2.55 (0.2; 5.1) a.u., p < 0.0001]; [4.72 (0.4; 10.1) a.u., p < 0.0001]. An association between the preterm birth and levels of IgA to progesterone (p = 0.00017) and benzo[a]pyrene (p = 0.0003) was established.Conclusion. Patients with cervical weakness were characterized by higher levels of IgA and IgG to estradiol, progesterone, and benzo[a]pyrene; notably, increased IgA to progesterone and benzo[a] pyrene correlated with a higher risk of preterm birth.