Cytokine profiles in patients with toxoplasmic lymphadenitis in the setting of pregnancy

Abstract

Introduction: Majority of Toxoplasma gondii infections are benign and asymptomatic; however, some patients experience toxoplasmic lymphadenitis (TL). Factors associated as to whether infection will be symptomatic or not are unknown.

Methods: Dye test titers of patients with acute toxoplasmosis (pregnant and not pregnant) with TL (TL+) were compared with those in patients with asymptomatic acute infection (TL-). Additionally, mean levels of 62 serum cytokines were compared between TL+ and TL- pregnant women and between TL+ pregnant and non-pregnant women.

Results: During acute infection, mean dye test titer was higher in TL+ than in TL- patients (p=0.021). In addition, out of 62 cytokines, CXCL9andCXCL10 levels were higher (p<0.05) and resistin mean levels were lower (p<0.05) in pregnant women with TL+ compared to TL-. Among patients with TL+, levels of VCAM1andCCL2 were lower (p<0.05) in pregnant women than in non-pregnant women.

Conclusion: Here we report differences in dye test titers in patients with acute infection. Cytokine responses vary according to the presence of TL+ and to the pregnancy status. Factors underlying these differences are presently unknown and require further studies to define individual and combined roles of cytokines in TL+.

Keywords: Acute infection; Cytokine; Pregnancy; Serology; Toxoplasmic lymphadenitis.