Interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and granulocyte elastase in newborns with fetal distress.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to investigate the participation of cytokines and neutrophils in fetal distress.


METHODS
Umbilical cord serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and plasma granulocyte elastase (GEL) were measured in 30 normally grown newborns without fetal distress (Group A), 10 growth-retarded newborns without acute fetal distress (Group B), 5 normally grown newborns with fetal distress (Group C), and 5 growth-retarded newborns with fetal distress (Group D). Umbilical arterial blood pH and PO2 were also measured.


RESULTS
Umbilical arterial blood pH and PO2 in either Group C or Group D were significantly lower than those in either Group A or Group B. The concentration of IL-6 in Group D was significantly higher than that in either Group A, B, or C. The level of IL-8 in either Group C or Group D was significantly higher than that in either Group A or Group B. The concentrations of GEL in Group D was significantly higher than that in either Group A or Group B.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that fetal distress in utero causes an elevation of immune factors such as IL-6, IL-8 and GEL.
Hata
T
T
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shimane Medical University, Izumo, Japan.
Kawamura
T
T
Inada
K
K
Fujiwaki
R
R
Ariyuki
Y
Y
Hata
K
K
Kitao
M
M
D000138:Acidosis / Q000097:blood; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005316:Fetal Distress / Q000097:blood*; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000097:blood; D005311:Fetal Hypoxia / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood*; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase / Q000097:blood*
D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase