Changes in cytokine (IL-8, IL-6 and TNF-alpha) levels in the amniotic fluid and maternal serum in patients with premature rupture of the membranes.
OBJECTIVE
To study the changes in interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels in patients with premature rupture of the membranes (PROM).


METHODS
A total of 46 normal term pregnant women served as controls and 46 women with PROM were enrolled for study. Maternal serum and amniotic fluid IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and a sensitive radioimmunoassay, respectively.


RESULTS
The maternal serum IL-6 and IL-8 levels and amniotic fluid IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha levels were higher than those of controls, and the differences were significant between the two groups (p < 0.05). Although the levels of TNF-alpha in maternal serum were higher than that of controls, the difference was not significant. There were significant relationships between the levels of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha and the duration of PROM. The longer the duration of PROM, the higher the levels of maternal serum and amniotic fluid IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha were. There were 12 cases of clinical chorioamnionitis, and the levels of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha in the maternal and amniotic fluid were higher than that of those without chorioamnionitis (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Determining cytokines (IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha) is a valuable clinical method for identifying chorioamnionitis in patients with PROM.
Zhang
W
W
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Second Teaching Hospital, Bethune University of Medical Sciences, Changchun, People's Republic of China.
Wang
L
L
Zhao
Y
Y
Kang
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000032:analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis
D016207:Cytokines; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha