title: Elevated plasma interleukin 6: a biochemical marker of human preterm labour.
abstract: Maternal peripheral venous plasma interleukin 6 (IL-6) concentrations were determined during human pregnancy and labour at term and preterm. During preterm labour, IL-6 concentrations were significantly elevated (p < 0.02) compared to gestationally matched, non-labouring controls (53.7 +/- 15.7 pg/ml, n = 17, and 15.4 +/- 6.4 pg/ml, n = 23, respectively). IL-6 concentrations did not vary significantly during normal pregnancy and labour at term. These data support a role for IL-6 in the pathogenesis of human preterm labour, are evidence for the contention that preterm labour is mechanistically distinct at a biochemical level from normal labour at term and identify maternal peripheral venous plasma IL-6 as a biochemical marker of this condition.
authors.affiliation: Monash Perinatal Unit, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Laham
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Rice
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Bishop
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bendtzen
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Brennecke
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000097:blood*; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015850:Interleukin-6