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INTRODUCTION: The epidemiology of Juvenile Dermatomyositis (JDM) in non-Caucasian population is poorly described. We performed a study of patients followed up in the French West Indies for JDM. We aimed to describe clinical and biological specificities during childhood. METHODS: Retrospective study covering the period from Januarys 2000-2023. Listings of patients were obtained from multiple sources, namely computerized hospital archives, registry of referent pediatricians and adult specialists in internal medicine and the French National Registry for rare diseases. JDM and organ involvement were defined according to the international ILAR criteria. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients were included over a 23 year-period. Median age at onset was 8.1 years (Range: 2.5-13.9) with a median follow up of 8 years (Range: 2-19). Two-thirds (14/21) had dysphagia at onset and 33% had respiratory involvement. Thirteen had specific autoantibodies (58%), most frequently anti-Mi-2. The median number of flares during childhood was three (1-9). During childhood, 76% had calcinosis lesions. Clinical evolution seemed to be more aggressive for boys than girls (respectively 4.2 versus 2.2 flares (p = 0.04) and 50% vs 18% needing more than one background therapy, p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: This retrospective study is the largest cohort of pediatric patients of Afro-Caribbean and Black African descent treated for JDM in a high-income health system, and the first to describe the incidence and immunological profile in a population of African descent. They had higher rate of calcinosis and similar respiratory involvement. Overall outcomes during childhood were similar to North America and European countries.
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Calcinose , Dermatomiosite , Masculino , Adulto , Feminino , Criança , Humanos , Pré-Escolar , Adolescente , Estudos de Coortes , Estudos Retrospectivos , Índias Ocidentais/epidemiologiaRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: To describe the epidemiology, characteristics, response to initial treatment, and outcomes of Adult-Onset Still's disease (AOSD) in the Afro-Caribbean population of Martinique with free and easy access to specialised care. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study from 2004 to 2022 in the island of Martinique, French West-Indies which total population was 354 800 in 2021. Patients were identified from multiple sources including standardised databases. To be included, patients had to be residents of the island and fulfilled Yamaguchi and/or Fautrel's criteria for AOSD, or have a compatible disease course, without a diagnosis of cancer, auto-immune disease or another auto-inflammatory disorder. Date of diagnosis, clinical and biological characteristics, treatments, and outcomes were collected. RESULTS: The prevalence was 7.6/100 000 inhabitants in 2021. The mean incidence was 0.4/100 000 during study period. Thirty-three patients (70.6% females) with a median follow-up of 35 months [7.5 to 119] were included. Twenty-six patients (78.8%) had a systemic pattern. Patients with a systemic monocyclic pattern had significantly more polyarticular involvement than patients with systemic polycyclic pattern (p = 0.016). Pulmonary involvement occurred in 51.5% of patients at diagnosis and systemic Pouchot score has been identified as an independent predictive factor for pulmonary involvement; OR of 3.29 [CI 95% 1.20; 9.01]. At first flare, all patients but one received oral glucocorticoids, 11 patients (32.4%) received intravenous glucocorticoids pulse and 12 patients (33%) received anti-IL1 therapy. Nineteen patients (57%) relapsed in a median time of 9 months [6 to 12] Three patients (9%) developed hemophagocytosis lymphohistiocytosis, fatal in 1 case. All deceased patients (n = 4, 11.76%) belonged to the systemic polycyclic pattern, with an event-free survival of 13.6 months [IQR 5.7; 29.5] CONCLUSION: AOSD in the Afro-Caribbean population of Martinique shares some similarities with other ethnic groups, but exhibit differences, such as a high proportion of lung involvement. Comparative studies are needed to confirm these results.
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Doença de Still de Início Tardio , Adulto , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , População do Caribe/estatística & dados numéricos , Etnicidade , Glucocorticoides/uso terapêutico , Martinica/epidemiologia , Estudos Retrospectivos , Doença de Still de Início Tardio/diagnóstico , Doença de Still de Início Tardio/tratamento farmacológico , Doença de Still de Início Tardio/epidemiologia , Doença de Still de Início Tardio/etnologia , Índias Ocidentais/epidemiologiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Endometrial cancer (EC) is the fourth most common cancer among Black women in the United States, a population disproportionately affected by aggressive nonendometrioid subtypes (e.g., serous, carcinosarcoma). To examine EC vulnerability among a wider spectrum of African descent populations, a comparison between Black women residing in different countries, rather than in the United States alone, is needed. METHODS: The authors analyzed 34,789 EC cases from Florida (FL) (2005-2018), Martinique (2005-2018), and Guadeloupe (2008-2018) based on cancer registry data. Age-adjusted incidence rates, incidence rate ratios (IRRs), and annual percent changes (APC) in trends were estimated for Black populations residing in the United States (non-Hispanic Blacks [NHB]) and Caribbean. The US non-Hispanic White (NHW) population was used as a reference. RESULTS: Caribbean Black women had the lowest rates for endometrioid and nonendometrioid subtypes. Nonendometrioid types were most common among US (FL) NHBs (9.2 per 100,000), 2.6 times greater than NHWs (IRR, 2.60; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.44-2.76). For endometrioid EC, rates increased 1.8% (95% CI, 0.1-3.5) yearly from 2005 to 2018 for US (FL) NHBs and 1.2% (95% CI, 0.9-1.6) for US (FL) NHWs whereas no change was observed for Caribbean Blacks. For nonendometroid carcinomas, rates increased 5.6% (95% CI, 4.0-7.2) among US (FL) NHB, 4.4% (95% CI, 0.3-8.6) for Caribbean Black, and 3.9% for US (FL) NHW women (95% CI, 2.4-5.5). CONCLUSIONS: Lower rates of nonendometrioid EC among Caribbean Black women suggest that vulnerability for these aggressive tumor subtypes may not currently be an overarching African ancestry disparity. Most importantly, there is an alarmingly increasing trend in nonendometrioid across all populations studied, which warrants further surveillance and etiological research for this particular subtype. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: We analyze population-based incidence rates and trends of endometrial cancer (EC) for African descent populations residing in different countries (i.e., United States, Martinique, Guadeloupe) to examine whether EC vulnerability among Black women is socio-environmental or more ancestry-specific in nature. The increased EC risk was not uniform across all Black women since the Caribbean had the lowest rates (for endometrioid and nonendometrioid histology subtypes). Regardless, from 2005 to 2018, there was an increasing trajectory of nonendometrioid EC for all groups, regardless of race.
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Carcinoma Endometrioide , Neoplasias do Endométrio , Feminino , Humanos , População Negra , Carcinoma Endometrioide/patologia , Neoplasias do Endométrio/epidemiologia , Neoplasias do Endométrio/patologia , Etnicidade , Incidência , Sistema de Registros , Florida , Martinica , GuadalupeRESUMO
Resumo O objetivo deste artigo é avaliar a prevalência e fatores associados aos Transtornos Mentais Comuns (TMC) em quilombolas residentes em comunidades rurais localizadas no norte de Minas Gerais, Brasil. Trata-se de estudo transversal realizado em 2019 a partir de entrevistas estruturadas e aplicação do Self Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20). Foi conduzida regressão logística binária. A prevalência de TMC foi de 38,7%. Houve maior chance de TMC entre quilombolas do sexo feminino (OR: 2,69; IC95% 2,00-3,62), com 1 a 8 anos de estudo (OR: 1,70; IC95% 1,15-2,51), renda familiar entre 1 a 1,5 salário mínimo (OR: 2,51; IC95% 1,60-3,94); que sofreram discriminação em serviços de saúde (OR: 2,44; IC95% 1,44-4,13); com autorrelato de doença pulmonar (OR: 2,10; IC95% 1,25-3,54), doença cardíaca (OR: 1,58; IC95% 1,01-2,50) e insuficiência renal crônica (OR: 1,97; IC95% 1,08-3,94), e com autopercepção de saúde negativa (OR: 3,07; IC95% 2,31-4,07). A alta prevalência de TMC observada neste estudo demonstra a necessidade de políticas de atenção à saúde mental voltadas para as populações vulnerabilizadas, como as comunidades quilombolas, a fim de mitigar o sofrimento mental e favorecer uma atenção profissional contextualizada com as singularidades das condições de vida e saúde desse grupo populacional.
Abstract The scope of this article is to assess the prevalence and factors associated with Common Mental Disorders (CMD) in "quilombolas" (Afro-Brazilian residents of quilombo settlements) in rural communities located in the North of Minas Gerais, Brazil. It is a cross-sectional study of 2019 based on structured interviews and application of a Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20). Binary logistic regression was conducted. The prevalence of CMD was 38.7%. There was a higher preponderance of CMD among female quilombolas (OR: 2.69; 95%CI 2.00-3.62), with 1 to 8 years of schooling (OR: 1.70; 95%CI 1.15-2,51), family income of 1 to 1,5 minimum wages (OR: 2.51; 95%CI 1.60-3.94); who suffered discrimination in health services (OR: 2.44; 95%CI 1.44-4.13); with self-reported lung disease (OR: 2.10; 95%CI 1.25-3.54), heart disease (OR: 1.58; 95%CI 1.01-2.50) chronic renal failure (OR: 1.97; 95%CI 1.08-3.94), and negative self-perception of health (OR: 3.07; 95%CI 2.31-4.07). The high prevalence of CMD revealed in this study demonstrates the need for mental health care policies aimed at vulnerable populations, such as quilombola communities, in order to mitigate mental suffering and promote professional contextualized care for the idiosyncrasies of health and living conditions of this population group.
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BACKGROUND: 25 hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and serum calcium have been associated with incident prostate cancer (PCa). However, there is limited data on whether these metabolites predict survival in men of African descent, a population disproportionately affected by PCa. We studied the relationship of 25(OH)D at PCa diagnosis with all-cause and cancer-specific mortality among Jamaican men and examined whether serum calcium modified any associations. METHODS: Serum 25(OH)D from 152 Jamaican men with incident PCa within the Prostate Cancer Risk Evaluation (PROSCARE) study were re-evaluated approximately 11 years after enrollment. 25(OH)D analyses were stratified using the using Holick criteria. PCa-specific and all-cause mortality were examined in Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox regression models adjusted for age, body mass index (BMI), smoking and Gleason score. Restricted cubic splines evaluated nonlinear associations. Serum calcium was assessed as an effect modifier of the association between 25(OH)D and mortality. RESULTS: Of cases with available 25(OH)D, 64 men with PCa survived, 38 deaths were PCa specific and 36 died of other causes. At baseline, 9.9% of cases were vitamin D deficient and 61.2% were vitamin D sufficient. Compared to 25(OH)D sufficient men, those with 25(OH)D <20.0 ng/mL concentrations were associated with higher PCa-specific mortality (adjusted HR, 4.95; 95% CI, 1.68, 14.63, P = .004) and all-cause mortality (adjusted HR, 2.40; 95%CI, 1.33, 4. 32, P = .003). Serum calcium was not associated with survival and did not modify any associations with 25(OH)D. CONCLUSIONS: 25(OH)D deficiency at PCa diagnosis predicted decreased survival for overall and PCa-specific cancer in Caribbean men of African ancestry.
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Neoplasias da Próstata , Deficiência de Vitamina D , Humanos , Jamaica/epidemiologia , Masculino , Próstata , Vitamina D/metabolismo , Deficiência de Vitamina D/complicações , Deficiência de Vitamina D/metabolismoRESUMO
Resumo O objetivo deste artigo é avaliar o risco nutricional e cardiovascular segundo medidas antropométricas em idosos quilombolas do estado do Maranhão. Trata-se de estudo transversal realizado em 11 comunidades remanescentes de quilombolas do município de Bequimão, Maranhão, Brasil. Realizou-se censo da população idosa que representou 205 pessoas. Foram estimados os riscos nutricional e cardiovascular por meio dos indicadores antropométricos segundo sexo e idade. Realizou-se Testes de Qui-quadrado de Pearson ou Exacto de Fisher e análises de variância. Diferenças foram consideradas estatisticamente significantes quando p<0,05. Idosos quilombolas vivem em precárias condições de moradia e de infraestrutura sanitária, com elevado risco nutricional e cardiovascular, mas com diferenças entre sexo e idade. O excesso de peso foi mais prevalente em mulheres e idosos mais jovens, enquanto os homens e idosos com 80 ou mais anos apresentaram-se mais desnutridos e com maior perda de massa corporal. O risco cardiovascular foi maior entre as mulheres e em todas as faixas etárias. Idosos quilombolas vivem em vulnerabilidade socioeconômica e apresentaram alta prevalência de baixo peso, perda de massa muscular e alto risco cardiovascular, sendo maior risco entre mulheres e idosos do grupo de maior idade.
Abstract This article aims to assess nutritional and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk based on anthropometric measures among older persons living in Quilombola communities in the state of Maranhão, Brazil. We conducted a cross-sectional study with 205 older persons living in 11 Quilombola communities in Bequimão, Maranhão. Nutritional and CVD risk were estimated according to sex and age group based on anthropometric indicators using Pearson's chi-square or Fisher's exact tests and analysis of variance, adopting a significance level of p<0.05. The study participants suffer precarious housing, basic sanitation and social conditions. Prevalence of nutritional and CDV risk was high across the sample, showing differences between sexes and age groups. Prevalence of excess weight was higher in women and the youngest age group, while prevalence of malnourishment and loss of muscle mass was higher in men and individuals aged 80 years and over. Prevalence of CVD risk was high across all age groups and higher in women than men. The older persons living in the Quilombola communities investigated by this study are socially vulnerable and showed high prevalence of low weight, loss of muscle mass and CDV risk. The prevalence of CVD risk was higher among women and the oldest age group.
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Humanos , Masculino , Feminino , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Doenças Cardiovasculares/epidemiologia , Desnutrição , Brasil/epidemiologia , Prevalência , Estudos Transversais , Fatores de RiscoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: In Martinique, prostate cancer (Pca) incidence rates are nowadays among the highest worldwide with a high incidence of early-onset and familial forms. Despite the demonstration of a strong familial component, identification of the genetic basis for hereditary Pca is challenging. The HOXB13 germline variant G84E (rs138213197) was described in men of European descent with Pca risk. METHODS: To investigate the potential involvement of HOXB13 mutations in Martinique, we performed sequencing of the HOXB13 coding regions of 46 index cases with early-onset Pca (before the age of 51). Additional breast cancers and controls were performed. All cancer cases analyzed in this study have been observed in the context of genetic counseling. RESULTS: We identified a rare heterozygous germline variant c.853delT (p.Ter285Lysfs) rs77179853, reported only among patients of African ancestry with a minor allele frequency of 3.2%. This variant is a stop loss reported only among patients of African ancestry with a frequency of 0.2%. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, we think that this study provides supplementary arguments that HOXB13 variants are involved in Pca.
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Mutação em Linhagem Germinativa , Proteínas de Homeodomínio/genética , Neoplasias da Próstata/genética , Adulto , Sequência de Bases , Neoplasias da Mama/genética , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Feminino , Frequência do Gene , Aconselhamento Genético , Humanos , Masculino , Martinica , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , LinhagemRESUMO
African American/Black women's rate of HIV infection has been explored along several variables. Understanding how the epidemic affects different ethnic groups of women is crucial in developing effective prevention strategies. There remains a gap in knowledge around the effects of ethnicity on the rate of infection among the culturally diverse groups of women living in the U.S. subsumed under the label African American/Black. The purpose of the study is to explore whether cultural differences exist among African Jamaican and African American women that may affect their empowerment and condom-use intentions, placing them at a more heightened risk of contracting HIV. The results indicate that women's sense of power, either in their relationships or within themselves, was not related to their condom-use self-efficacy or condom-use intentions. Although none of the five hypotheses was fully supported, related significant findings suggest that women's level of acculturation was negatively related to their intentions to negotiate condom use. The longer women were in the United States, the lower their condom-use intentions.
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Negro ou Afro-Americano/psicologia , Preservativos/estatística & dados numéricos , Empoderamento , Infecções por HIV/prevenção & controle , Negociação , Mulheres/psicologia , Adulto , Feminino , Humanos , Jamaica/etnologia , Masculino , Parceiros Sexuais , Estados UnidosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Mass breast cancer screening is offered to French women between the ages of 50 and 74. In the French overseas department of Guadeloupe, where the population is of mostly African ancestry, a low age at diagnosis of breast cancer has been reported, as for African-Americans. This raises the question of whether breast cancer is more aggressive in the age group preceding that eligible for mass screening (40-49) in Guadeloupe. METHODS: We compared the tumor-related prognostic factors, first line therapy and overall survival rates of breast cancer cases diagnosed between the 40-49 and 50-74 age groups, based on reports of the cancer registry of Guadeloupe for the period 2008-2013. RESULTS: The characteristics studied, risk of death after breast cancer (HR 0.84 [95% CI: 0.58-1.22] and overall survival, did not differ significantly between the two groups, except for higher tumor size (28.8 vs 24.0; p=0.004) in the younger group. CONCLUSION: These results do not show a pattern of more aggressive breast cancer in the age group preceding that eligible for mass screening in Guadeloupe.
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Neoplasias da Mama/mortalidade , Neoplasias da Mama/patologia , Adulto , Fatores Etários , Idoso , População Negra , Neoplasias da Mama/etnologia , Detecção Precoce de Câncer , Feminino , Guadalupe/epidemiologia , Humanos , Programas de Rastreamento , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Sistema de Registros , Taxa de SobrevidaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Historically, black men of African descent have been disproportionately affected by prostate cancer compared with Caucasian men. African-Caribbean men are generally at higher risk of prostate cancer, with Jamaican men noted to have the highest incidence in the world. No robust evidence exists for the increased incidence among Jamaican men, or indeed, a clear explanation for the reasons these men are at a greater risk of developing the disease in comparison with other African-Caribbean men. METHODS AND FINDINGS: A literature review was undertaken. The findings indicated that black men of African descent, specifically Jamaican men, are at greater risk of prostate cancer and this finding applies to Africa, the Caribbean, the UK and USA. CONCLUSIONS: Current evidence for the higher incidence of prostate cancer among Jamaican men remains inconclusive and does not provide a clear explanation for its prevalence. More comparative studies are required to identify any predisposing factors responsible for this anomaly, worldwide. The involvement of health professionals in these research undertakings is important to obtaining insight into prostate cancer and in devising strategies to improve management and health outcomes.
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População Negra , Neoplasias da Próstata/etnologia , Região do Caribe/epidemiologia , Dieta , Detecção Precoce de Câncer , Disparidades em Assistência à Saúde , Humanos , Incidência , Jamaica/epidemiologia , Jamaica/etnologia , Estilo de Vida , Masculino , Prevalência , Risco , Fatores de Risco , Reino Unido/epidemiologia , Estados Unidos/epidemiologiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The Caribbean island of Tobago, which is 97% African ancestry, has one of the highest rates of prostate cancer in the world. We have previously reported that human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) infection is significantly associated with prostate cancer in Tobago. In this study, we extend those results testing the hypothesis that HHV-8 seropositive Tobagonian men have a chronic HHV-8 infection in their prostates that is associated with increased inflammation. METHODS: Prostate sections were screened by immunohistochemistry for the expression of HHV-8 proteins K8.1 and LANA-1 and for presence of B cells (CD20) and macrophages (CD68). RESULTS: HHV-8 antigen expression representing lytic and latent infections was seen in 73.9% of prostates from HHV-8 seropositive subjects. Latent infections were seen predominantly in glandular epithelia whereas lytic gene expression was seen mainly in macrophages in prostate stroma. Macrophage infiltrates were significantly increased in sections expressing HHV-8 proteins. CONCLUSION: HHV-8 establishes a chronic latent infection in the prostate, which is associated with an increased macrophage infiltrate.
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Infecções por Herpesviridae/patologia , Macrófagos/patologia , Próstata/patologia , Neoplasias da Próstata/virologia , Antígenos CD/metabolismo , Antígenos CD20/metabolismo , Antígenos de Diferenciação Mielomonocítica/metabolismo , Antígenos Virais/metabolismo , Linfócitos B/metabolismo , Linfócitos B/patologia , Biomarcadores/metabolismo , Glicoproteínas/metabolismo , Infecções por Herpesviridae/virologia , Herpesvirus Humano 8 , Humanos , Macrófagos/metabolismo , Masculino , Proteínas Nucleares/metabolismo , Próstata/metabolismo , Próstata/virologia , Neoplasias da Próstata/metabolismo , Neoplasias da Próstata/patologia , Trinidad e Tobago , Proteínas Virais/metabolismoRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether obesity is an independent risk factor for cesarean delivery in Martinique. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed using data for deliveries that occurred at the University Hospital of Fort de France between January and September 2010. Women were divided into four groups on the basis of body mass index (BMI, calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters; < 25 [group 1], 25-29 [group 2], 30-39 [group 3], and ≥ 40 [group 4]). Independent risk factors for cesarean delivery were identified through multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Overall, 1286 women were included. Mean weight gain was lower in groups 2 (9.9 kg, 95% CI 9.2-10.7), 3 (5.7 kg, 4.7-6.7), and 4 (1.0 kg,-1.5 to 3.5), than in group 1 (12.3 kg, 11.9-12.7; P < 0.001 for all). In univariate analysis, cesarean deliveries were more frequent among nulliparous women in group 2 (P = 0.007) and group 3 (P = 0.053) than among those in group 1. In multivariate analysis, BMI was not associated with cesarean delivery (BMI 25-29: adjusted odds ratio 0.64, 95% CI 0.33-1.25; BMI ≥ 30: 0.61, 0.29-1.39). CONCLUSION: Obesity was not an independent risk factor for cesarean delivery. Weight control and a positive attitude towards trial of labor in obese women could have led to the findings.
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Cesárea/estatística & dados numéricos , Parto Obstétrico/métodos , Obesidade/complicações , Complicações do Trabalho de Parto/etiologia , Complicações na Gravidez/etiologia , Adulto , População Negra , Índice de Massa Corporal , Feminino , Humanos , Martinica , Análise Multivariada , Razão de Chances , Paridade , Gravidez , Estudos Retrospectivos , Fatores de Risco , Prova de Trabalho de Parto , Aumento de PesoRESUMO
Sickle cell disease is the most common hemoglobinopathy worldwide, particularly in Africa and among people of African descent. Serious clinical consequences characterize the homozygous condition. To determine the prevalence of Hb S (HBB: c.20A > T) and anemia in a community of people of African descent from Honduras, 202 individuals were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The high prevalence found indicates that it is necessary to implement a program to prevent the consequences of this disease in vulnerable populations of Honduras.
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Anemia Falciforme/epidemiologia , Anemia Falciforme/genética , População Negra/genética , Hemoglobina Falciforme/genética , Mutação , Globinas beta/genética , Adolescente , Anemia Falciforme/diagnóstico , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , Frequência do Gene , Geografia , Homozigoto , Honduras/epidemiologia , Humanos , Lactente , Masculino , Polimorfismo de Fragmento de Restrição , Gravidez , Prevalência , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Dermoscopy represents a useful technique for the diagnosis and follow-up of hair and scalp disorders. To date, little has been published regarding dermoscopy findings of hair disorders in patients of African descent. This article illustrates how dermoscopy allows fast diagnosis of hair breakage due to intrinsic factors and chemical damage in African descent patients.
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La preeclampsia (PE) es una complicación del embarazo que trae consigo algunas consecuencias negativas para la madre y el feto: en la madre provoca principalmente hipertensión y proteinuria, mientras que en el feto puede presentarse trombocitopenia, alteración en el desarrollo del sistema nervioso central y circulatorio, y restricción del crecimiento intrauterino, lo cual se considera el factor de riesgo principal de muerte fetal en nacimientos producto de una PE severa. En la preeclampsia se presenta una disfunción endotelial relacionada con placentación anormal, estado de estrés oxidativo y proceso inflamatorio sistémico, que lleva a la activación de neutrófilos y monocitos. Se ha considerado a la interleucina-8 (IL-8) como un posible candidato desencadenante por ser quimioatrayente y activador de leucocitos; en la circulación sanguínea, la IL-8 se une a un receptor de quimiocina multiespecífico de alta afinidad denominado DARC, que es idéntico al antígeno del grupo sanguíneo Duffy. Este receptor regula los niveles plasmáticos de IL-8, uniéndose a esta quimiocina, pero cuando hay una mutación en la región promotora del gen se altera la expresión de DARC, lo que conlleva a que la IL-8 de los factores genéticos involucrados en la activación de los neutrófilos y de los monocitos, y por ende, en la disfunción endotelial presentada durante este síndrome hipertensivo, especialmente en la población afrodescendiente.
Preeclampsia (PE) is a complication of pregnancy that brings some negative consequences for both mother and fetus. It specially causes hypertension and proteinuria in mothers; while in fetuses it causes thrombocytopenia, development alterations of the central nervous and circulatory system; also intrauterine growth restriction may occur. This last factor is regarded as the main risk factor for fetal death in births as a result of severe PE. There is endothelial dysfunction in preeclampsia related to abnormal placentation, state of oxidative stress and systemic inflammatory process that leads to the activation of neutrophils and monocytes. Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is considered as a possible trigger candidate, since this chemokine is a chemoattractant and leukocyte activator. In the bloodstream, interleukin-8 binds to a high affinity multispecific-chemokine receptor called DARC, which is identical to the Duffy blood group antigen. This receptor regulates plasma levels of IL-8 by binding to chemokine. But, when there is a mutation in the gene promoter region, DARC expression is altered, and IL-8 inefficiently binds to receptor. This mutation results in Duffy negative phenotype, which is present in most of African descendants. This literature review is intended to address the role of IL-8 as neutrophil chemo-attractant, the importance of Duffy blood system and the possible association between ethnicity and preeclampsia.