title: Cervical ripening induces labour through interleukin 1 beta.
abstract: In order to study the Interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) levels in mechanical cervical ripening with Foley catheter, IL-1 beta levels in amniotic fluid of 12 women before and after cervical ripening were compared with those in 23 women in spontaneous active labour. IL-1 beta was present in 81.8% of patients after cervical ripening and in none prior to it. In women with spontaneous labour 69.6% had immunodetectable IL-1 beta. Women with spontaneous labour and those sampled after cervical ripening had similar IL-1 beta levels in the amniotic fluid. Cervical ripening with Foley catheter is associated with high levels of IL-1 beta and this probably induces labour.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, India.
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jeyaseelan
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Seshadri
mesh_terms: D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D002404:Catheterization; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology; D007751:Labor, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D007375:Interleukin-1