Interleukin-8 in cord sera: a sensitive and specific marker for the detection of preterm chorioamnionitis.
Interleukin-8 (IL-8) exerts chemotactic activity on neutrophils at inflammatory sites to eliminate invading bacteria. To investigate whether the preterm fetus with chorioamnionitis produces IL-8, the titers of IL-8 were examined in sera of babies with (n = 38) and without chorioamnionitis (n = 34) using an EIA kit specific for IL-8. The infected babies had a significantly higher IL-8 titer than those not infected at 22-36 gestational weeks. The IL-8 titer was increased even in the mild histologic stage of chorioamnionitis and became much higher in the more severe stage. The IL-8 elevation, however, was remarkably suppressed by infusion of a steroid into the mother to promote fetal lung maturation. This retrospective study demonstrated that titration of IL-8 in cord serum is a more useful marker for the early detection of chorioamnionitis, because of its higher sensitivity and specificity, than conventional markers such as C-reactive protein.
Shimoya
K
K
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka University Medical School, Japan.
Matsuzaki
N
N
Taniguchi
T
T
Jo
T
T
Saji
F
F
Kitajima
H
H
Fujimura
M
M
Nakayama
M
M
Tanizawa
O
O
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002821:Chorioamnionitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000276:immunology*; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000150:complications*; D005325:Fetal Organ Maturity / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood*; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000150:complications*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D016209:Interleukin-8; D001623:Betamethasone