title: Chorioamnionitis: elevated interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 concentrations in the lower uterine segment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 concentrations in the lower uterine segment in patients with chorioamnionitis compared to those without.
  
  
  METHODS
  Biopsy specimens from the lower uterine segment of 33 patients with chorioamnionitis were matched to specimens of 33 patients without. The biopsies had been taken during cesarean section. The concentrations of IL-6 and IL-8 in protein extracts of these specimens were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to the controls patients with chorioamnionitis showed significantly lower gestational age and higher parity, and were more likely to receive fenoterol or betamethasone. In the chorioamnionitis group the median IL-6 concentrations were higher than in the controls (61.5 and 19.4 pg/mg protein, respectively [p < 0.01]). The same applies to the median IL-8 concentrations (162.3 and 13.4 pg/mg protein, respectively [p < 0.001]).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To our knowledge this is the first study which could clearly demonstrate significantly increased IL-6 and IL-8 levels in the lower uterine segment of patients with chorioamnionitis. Increased concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines may play a pivotal role in cervical softening and dilatation during chorioamniotic infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Technical University (RWTH) of Aachen, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Marc J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Willi
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Winkler
authors.forename: Dagmar-Christiane
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: Thorsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Reineke
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maul
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rath
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002821:Chorioamnionitis / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000276:immunology*; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D014599:Uterus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8