Brooklynn Vincent
Research Mentor(s): Nadia Saadat
Mentor Department: Pediatrics
Authors: Nadia Saadat, Brooklynn Vincent
Session: Session 6 (3:00pm – 3:50pm)
Presentation Type: Poster 15
Abstract
Abstract African American women experience higher levels of systemic inflammation compared to other racial groups, which contributes to adverse perinatal outcomes. This study investigates the relationship between maternal inflammation and pre-pregnancy chronic health conditions, including asthma, hypertension, heart disease, and kidney issues. Pregnant women receiving care at a prenatal clinic self-reported their medical histories, and inflammatory biomarkers—interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a), interferon-gamma (IFN-?), C-reactive protein (CRP), and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF)—were analyzed using multiplex assays. The study sample included participants with a mean age of 28.3 ± 5.6 years and a mean gestational age of 17.8 ± 4.2 weeks. Asthma was the most prevalent condition at 25%.. Pearson correlation analysis showed a significant association between CRP levels and hypertension (r = 0.175, p = 0.010), MIF levels and diabetes (r = 0.200, p = 0.003), and IL8 and IL10 levels and other conditions (r =0.123, p=0.005) indicating an inflammatory link to these conditions. However, asthma, heart problems, and kidney problems were not significantly correlated with inflammatory markers (p > 0.05). These findings suggest that certain chronic conditions prior to pregnancy, hypertension and diabetes, may heighten inflammatory responses, potentially influencing maternal and fetal health.
