Maternal Serum B-Cell Activating Factor Levels

Abstract

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are a leading cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Early suppression of B-cell lymphopoiesis is necessary for a normal pregnancy. Dysregulation of factors critical to B-cell survival may result in pregnancy complications, including hypertension. In this prospective observational study at a single medical center, serum levels of BAFF (B-cell activating factor) were measured in pregnant participants at each trimester, at delivery, and postpartum and in nonpregnant controls at a single time point. Comparisons were made between nonpregnant and pregnant subjects and between time periods of pregnancy. First-trimester serum BAFF levels were further tested for association with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. The study included 149 healthy pregnant women, 25 pregnant women with chronic hypertension, and 48 nonpregnant controls. Median first-trimester serum BAFF level (ng/mL) for healthy women (0.90) was lower than median serum BAFF levels for women with chronic hypertension (0.96; =0.013) and controls (1.00;=0.002). Serum BAFF levels steadily declined throughout pregnancy, with the median second-trimester level lower than the corresponding first-trimester level (0.77; =0.003) and the median third-trimester level lower than the corresponding second-trimester level (0.72;=0.025). The median first-trimester serum BAFF level was elevated in women who subsequently developed hypertension compared with women who remained normotensive (1.02 versus 0.85; =0.012), with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve being 0.709. First-trimester serum BAFF level may be an early and clinically useful predictor of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

Methylglyoxal, Glycated Albumin, PAF, and TNF-α: Possible Inflammatory and Metabolic Biomarkers for Management of Gestational Diabetes

“…In this study, we investigated the role of specific cytokines, such as B-cell activating factor (BAFF), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and platelet-activating factor (PAF), together with some markers of oxidative stress, in pregnant women affected by GDM. It has already been observed that those signaling cytokines and inflammatory molecules have a role in the mechanisms of insulin resistance and may result in pregnancy complications such as maternal hypertension [6][7][8][9].…”

“…BAFF plays a role in determining insulin resistance [10][11][12] and has been implicated in GDM. BAFF is an essential immune regulator that was recently reported to be secreted by the placenta [6,13].…”

B cell activation factor (BAFF) induces inflammation in the human fallopian tube leading to tubal pregnancy

“…As a proinflammatory cytokine, BAFF is elevated in patients with autoimmune or inflammatory diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease, periodontitis, systemic sclerosis and so on [6–9]. Moreover, there is some research showing the expression of BAFF in reproductive tissues or female serum as well as addressing the importance of this cytokine in different reproductive diseases [10, 11]. During the early pregnancy, BAFF was rich in decidua and trophoblast.…”

Going solo: the law and ethics of childbirth during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…These aspects of the experience have led some to conclude that birthing women inherently lack the competence to make decisions concerning their care. 106 The doctrine is further complicated by the presence of the fetus, especially in states where it is considered an independent legal entity. 107 Indeed, 'the fetus has become the dominant putative plaintiff in modern obstetric malpractice cases, distorting and diminishing the rights and remedies of birthing women as patients and as plaintiffs' .…”