title: Maternal serum interleukin 6 levels in preterm labor: prediction of admission-to-delivery interval.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the diagnostic value of maternal serum interleukin 6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and white blood cell (WBC) count for the prediction of preterm labor and length of admission-to-delivery interval in patients with preterm labor.
  
  
  METHODS
  Maternal serum IL-6, CRP and WBC count were prospectively determined in eighty-two patients in preterm labor and 21 controls. Data was analyzed in study and control groups, and for the assessment of clinical and laboratory risk factors in the prediction of admission-to-delivery interval in the study group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Maternal serum IL-6 levels were significantly higher in the study group than controls. The IL-6 value associated with the highest percent of true positives and true negatives for the prediction of preterm labor was 5 pg/ml. The area under curve of maternal IL-6 was significantly higher than the area under curve of of CRP and WBC count. In the study group maternal serum IL-6 levels were significantly higher in patients delivered within 2 and 7 days than the nondelivering ones and a cut off value of 8.3 pg/ml was determined for estimation of preterm delivery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maternal serum IL-6 is a reliable marker in the prediction and management of preterm labor and delivery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fatih University Medical School, Ankara, Turkey. nilgunturhan@hotmail.com
authors.forename: N O
authors.initials: NO
authors.lastname: Turhan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karabulut
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Adam
mesh_terms: D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D016015:Logistic Models; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012372:ROC Curve; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D002097:C-Reactive Protein