title: Interleukin-6 and neopterin levels in serum of patients with preterm labour with and without infection.
abstract: We estimated the levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and neopterin, in serum of twelve nonpregnant (group A) and 28 pregnant women between 28-36 weeks of pregnancy. Group B consisted of eight patients with uncomplicated pregnancy, group C consisted of thirteen pregnant women with clinical signs of preterm labour and without laboratory markers of infection and group D consisted of seven pregnant women with signs of preterm labour and with laboratory markers of infection. The levels of IL-6 and neopterin were significantly higher in group D compared to groups A, B and C (p < 0.05). Similarly, the level of C-reactive protein (CRP) and total white blood cell count (the laboratory markers of infection) were significantly higher in group D than in groups A, B and C. Total white blood cell count was significantly lower in group A than in group B and D (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in values of IL-6, neopterin and CRP between groups A, B and C (p > 0.05). In all groups, significant correlations were found between IL-6 and neopterin as well as total white blood cell count and CRP. Our results suggest that IL-6 and neopterin may be the markers of preterm labour caused by infection. On the other hand, cell-mediated immune response may be involved in the mechanisms of preterm labour.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Perinatology, School of Medicine, Lublin Poland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oleszczuk
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wawrzycka
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Maj
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001708:Biopterins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000097:blood*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D019798:Neopterin; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000097:blood*; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D001708:Biopterins; D019798:Neopterin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein