biostudies-literatureUnknown10Xia H<h4>Background</h4>Fatigue is one of the most prevalent symptoms among pregnant women. In patients with various diseases, pro-inflammatory cytokines are associated with fatigue; however, such associations are unknown in pregnant women.<h4>Objectives</h4>The objective of this study was to examine the associations between pro-inflammatory cytokines and prenatal fatigue.<h4>Methods</h4>A cross-sectional study was conducted on 271 pregnant Chinese women in their third trimester of pregnancy. Patient-reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) was used to evaluate women's prenatal fatigue. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the serum concentrations of four pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-<i>α</i>), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1<i>β</i>), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and interleukin 8 (IL-8), were measured. The data was analyzed by correlation analysis and general linear regression analysis.<h4>Results</h4>In this sample, the mean (standard deviation) of fatigue scores was 51.94 (10.79). TNF-<i>α</i> (<i>r</i> = 0.21, <i>p</i> < 0.001), IL-6 (<i>r</i> = 0.134, <i>p</i> = 0.027) and IL-8 (<i>r</i> = 0.209, <i>p</i> = 0.001) were positively correlated to prenatal fatigue, although IL-1<i>β</i> was not. TNF-<i>α</i> (<i>β</i> = 0.263, <i>p</i> < 0.001), along with sleep quality (<i>β</i> = 0.27, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and depression (<i>β</i> = 0.376, <i>p</i> < 0.001) independently predicted prenatal fatigue.<h4>Conclusions</h4>TNF-<i>α</i> was identified as an independent biomarker for prenatal fatigue in our study. Reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines may be a unique method for lowering prenatal fatigue and, consequently, enhancing mother and child health.PeerJe13965https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9526404biostudies-literatureAssociations between pro-inflammatory cytokines and fatigue in pregnant women.PMC9526404Xia HZhu XZhu CfalseAssociations between pro-inflammatory cytokines and fatigue in pregnant women.<h4>Background</h4>Fatigue is one of the most prevalent symptoms among pregnant women. In patients with various diseases, pro-inflammatory cytokines are associated with fatigue; however, such associations are unknown in pregnant women.<h4>Objectives</h4>The objective of this study was to examine the associations between pro-inflammatory cytokines and prenatal fatigue.<h4>Methods</h4>A cross-sectional study was conducted on 271 pregnant Chinese women in their third trimester of pregnancy. Patient-reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) was used to evaluate women's prenatal fatigue. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the serum concentrations of four pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-<i>α</i>), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1<i>β</i>), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and interleukin 8 (IL-8), were measured. The data was analyzed by correlation analysis and general linear regression analysis.<h4>Results</h4>In this sample, the mean (standard deviation) of fatigue scores was 51.94 (10.79). TNF-<i>α</i> (<i>r</i> = 0.21, <i>p</i> < 0.001), IL-6 (<i>r</i> = 0.134, <i>p</i> = 0.027) and IL-8 (<i>r</i> = 0.209, <i>p</i> = 0.001) were positively correlated to prenatal fatigue, although IL-1<i>β</i> was not. TNF-<i>α</i> (<i>β</i> = 0.263, <i>p</i> < 0.001), along with sleep quality (<i>β</i> = 0.27, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and depression (<i>β</i> = 0.376, <i>p</i> < 0.001) independently predicted prenatal fatigue.<h4>Conclusions</h4>TNF-<i>α</i> was identified as an independent biomarker for prenatal fatigue in our study. Reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines may be a unique method for lowering prenatal fatigue and, consequently, enhancing mother and child health.2022-01-01T00:00:00Z20222025-04-19T11:34:22.266Z2025-02-19T00:23:47.599ZS-EPMC95264043619342010.7717/peerj.13965