Interleukin-6 as a Predictor of Subclinical Chorioamnionitis in Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes

• Published in: American journal of reproductive immunology (1989) Vol. 67; no. 3; pp. 235 - 240
• Main Authors: Gulati, Shilpa, Bhatnagar, Sonu, Raghunandan, Chitra, Bhattacharjee, Jayashree
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.03.2012
• Subjects: C-reactive protein; Chorioamnionitis; Chorioamnionitis - blood; Chorioamnionitis - immunology; Chorioamnionitis - pathology; Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Female; Fetal Membranes, Premature Rupture - blood; Fetal Membranes, Premature Rupture - immunology; Fetuses; Gestation; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature, Diseases - blood; Infant, Premature, Diseases - immunology; Infection; interleukin; Interleukin 6; Interleukin-6 - blood; Interleukin-6 - immunology; Morbidity; Placenta; Pregnancy; premature rupture of membranes; preterm delivery; Rupture
• ISSN: 1046-7408; 1600-0897; 1600-0897
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0897.2011.01084.x

Citation Gulati S, Bhatnagar S, Raghunandan C, Bhattacharjee J. Interleukin‐6 as a predictor of subclinical chorioamnionitis in preterm premature rupture of membranes. Am J Reprod Immunol 2012; 67: 235–240 Problem  One of the major challenges faced by the clinicians in preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PPROM) is to correctly identify when a significant chorioamnionitis is evolving and decide timely delivery of the fetus. Measuring interleukin‐6 levels in maternal serum can be useful for the identification of asymptomatic intrauterine infections in subjects with PPROM. Method of study  A total of 75 pregnant women, of which 45 pregnant women presenting with PPROM between 24 and 34 weeks gestation and 30 healthy pregnant women without PPROM, were included in the study. Serum IL‐6 levels were determined by solid‐phase sandwich enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (Diaclone Research, Besancon, France). Results  The mean serum IL‐6 value at admission in the control group was 2.48 ± 2.7 pg/mL and in the study group was 11.86 ± 14.5 pg/mL (P = 0.001). Mean serum IL‐6 concentrations at admission in subjects without histological chorioamnionitis were 3.98 ± 3.9 pg/mL and in those who had histological chorioamnionitis were 20.09 ± 16.8 pg/ml (P < 0.001). Conclusion  Maternal serum IL‐6 levels were significantly elevated in subjects with PPROM with infectious morbidity as compared to those without infectious morbidity in the present study. There was a significant rise in maternal serum IL‐6 levels with increased duration of rupture of membranes and with evidence of histological chorioamnionitis and funisitis in the placenta.