Interleukin-6 levels in amniotic fluid in normal and abnormal pregnancies: preeclampsia, small-for-gestational-age fetus, and premature labor.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to determine if abnormal amniotic fluid interleukin-6 levels correlate with pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia, small-for-gestational-age fetus, and premature labor.


METHODS
A case control study design was used to compare third-trimester amniotic fluid interleukin-6 levels from women with normal pregnancies (n = 25) and pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia (n = 15), small-for-gestational-age perinates (n = 8), and premature labor (n = 29).


RESULTS
Amniotic fluid interleukin-6 levels in women with preeclampsia and small-for-gestational-age perinates were less than in controls (p < 0.01). Interleukin-6 levels in women with preterm labor refractory to tocolysis were higher than those in women with preterm labor responsive to tocolysis (p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Interleukin-6 is normally present in amniotic fluid. In the third trimester of pregnancy low levels correlate with small-for-gestational-age fetuses and preeclampsia, whereas elevated levels correlate with preterm labor and delivery.
Silver
R M
RM
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver.
Schwinzer
B
B
McGregor
J A
JA
D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000378:metabolism*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D015850:Interleukin-6