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Ethnic Variations in Cervical Cytokine Concentrations and Vaginal Flora During Pregnancy
Author(s) -
Dutt Riana,
Raker Christina,
Anderson Brenna L.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
american journal of reproductive immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.071
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1600-0897
pISSN - 1046-7408
DOI - 10.1111/aji.12291
Subject(s) - pregnancy , medicine , obstetrics , gynecology , prospective cohort study , vaginal flora , third trimester , cohort study , vagina , physiology , bacterial vaginosis , gestation , biology , surgery , genetics
Problem Pregnancy‐mediated changes in immunity may influence risk of HIV ‐1 acquisition. This risk appears greatest among non‐ C aucasian women. Method of study Pregnant women with low risk of immune disruption were enrolled in a prospective observational cohort. Study visits occurred each trimester and postpartum. Semi‐quantitative vaginal cultures and concentrations of cervical cytokines were compared between C aucasian and non‐ C aucasian women. Results In the second trimester, non‐ C aucasian women were more likely to be colonized with G ardnerella vaginalis (62% versus 25%, P = 0.02) and non‐pigmented anaerobic gram‐negative rods (43% versus 8%, P = 0.01). M ycoplasma hominis was more frequently isolated in non‐ C aucasian women throughout the second (29% versus 4%, P = 0.03) and third trimesters (35% versus 6%, P = 0.04). Non‐ C aucasian women had higher median interleukin ( IL )‐10 concentrations throughout the second (128 pg/mL versus 7 pg/mL, P = 0.05) and third trimesters (224 pg/mL versus 7 pg/mL, P = 0.05). Conclusion Non‐ C aucasian women experienced a greater diversity of microorganisms and increased IL ‐10 in the second and third trimesters.