Table 1 Comparisons of median cytokine levels (interquartile range) in the maternal, placental and cord blood compartments of women positive and negative for malaria infections

Total number

185

185

185

Number of malaria positive

92

97

55

Number of malaria negative

93

88

130

IL4

Total

4.2 (2.3−7.3)

6.7 (4.4−10.6)

1.9 (1.2−2.9)

 < 0.001

Malaria positive

6.5 (3.9−8.5)

10.3 (8.3−13.3)

2.5 (1.8−3.6)

 < 0.001

Malaria negative

3.1 (1.7−4.3)

4.7 (3.4−6.0)

1.6 (1.0−2.5)

 < 0.001

P value

 < 0.001

 < 0.001

 < 0.001

IL 6

Total

39.2 (23.7−63.4)

19.8 (12.3−30.6)

8.3 (4.1−14.2)

 < 0.001

Malaria positive

27.6 (20.8−40.9)

16.1 (9.4−20.1)

5.6 (2.8−11.6)

 < 0.001

Malaria negative

58.3 (38.1−73.2)

29.4 (19.4−41.1)

9.5 (5.5−14.5)

 < 0.001

P value

 < 0.001

 < 0.001

0.002

IL10

Total

63.5 (31.5−102.0)

37.3 (17.9−71.5)

12.6 (7.5−25.3)

 < 0.001

Malaria positive

89.4 (49.5−175.5)

65.4 (36.2−102.5)

15.6 (9.4−37.8)

 < 0.001

Malaria negative

46.5 (24.4−72.0)

19.4 (12.7−37.0)

13.5 (6.8−20.9)

 < 0.001

P value

 < 0.001

 < 0.001

0.032

IL17A

Total

3.2 (1.4−5.4)

8.6 (6.4−14.2)

3.3 (2.1−7.0)

 < 0.001

Malaria positive

2.5 (1.4−5.2)

7.5 (5.6−8.6)

2.8 (2.0−3.5)

 < 0.001

Malaria negative

3.6 (1.4−5.6)

14.3 (10.0−16.3)

3.6 (2.3−8.0)

 < 0.001

P value

0.214

 < 0.001

0.002

IFN-γ

Total

68.1 (39.1−107.0)

86.7 (45.9−192.7)

27.6 (18.4−67.8)

 < 0.001

Malaria positive

48.8 (32.9−78.0)

129.9 (36.8−281.9)

32.1 (17.2−96.3)

 < 0.001

Malaria negative

97.2 (58.3 − 121.9)

76.1 (49.6 − 112.1)

27.5 (18.6−57.5)

 < 0.001

P value

 < 0.001

0.065

0.536