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Br J Ophthalmol 2004;88:1506-1509 doi:10.1136/bjo.2004.048595
  • Clinical science
    • Scientific reports

A correlation of pregnancy term, disease activity, serum female hormones, and cytokines in uveitis

  1. C-C Chan1,
  2. G F Reed2,
  3. Y Kim2,
  4. E Agrón2,
  5. R R Buggage1
  1. 1Laboratory of Immunology, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
  2. 2Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Research, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
  1. Correspondence to: Chi-Chao Chan MD Bldg 10, Room 10N103, NIH/NEI, 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892–1857, USA; chancnei.nih.gov
  • Accepted 17 May 2004

Abstract

Background/aims: Pregnancy and the postpartum period are associated with the activity of autoimmune diseases including uveitis. Although the exact mechanism is unknown, hormones are reported to alter inflammatory cytokines and influence disease activity. The authors studied ocular inflammation, female hormones, and serum cytokine levels during and after pregnancy.

Methods: A prospective, observational case study was conducted. Four pregnant women in their first trimester with chronic non-infectious uveitis were followed monthly until 6 months after delivery. Serum female hormones (oestrogen, progesterone, prolactin) and various cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-γ, and TGF-β) were measured by ELISA.

Results: The four patients had five full term pregnancies. Uveitis activity decreased after the first trimester but flared in the early postpartum period. Serum female hormones, highly elevated during pregnancy, drastically dropped post partum. Cytokine levels except TGF-β were mostly undetectable.

Conclusion: Female hormones and TGF-β may contribute to the activity of uveitis during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

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