Second-trimester amniotic fluid interleukin-10 concentration predicts preterm delivery.
OBJECTIVE
Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is an inflammatory cytokine that has been shown to be elevated in the amniotic fluid of patients with preterm labor. On the other hand, interleukin-10 (IL-10) is an anti-inflammatory cytokine that has been shown to inhibit the synthesis of other cytokines. We hypothesized that amniotic fluid IL-10 in the early second trimester is low in patients who subsequently develop preterm labor, and because of its deficiency, excessive inflammatory responses associated with IL-6 elevation lead to preterm labor and delivery.


METHODS
Amniotic fluid IL-6 and IL-10 levels were measured in 96 women who underwent genetic amniocentesis between 15 and 23 weeks' gestation. Levels of IL-6 and IL-10 were measured by immunoassay and correlated with demographic and pregnancy outcome information.


RESULTS
Fifteen patients delivered at or before 36 weeks and 81 patients delivered after 36 weeks. There was an inverse correlation between amniotic fluid IL-10 concentration and gestational age at delivery. Similarly, an inverse correlation also existed between amniotic fluid IL-6 concentration and gestational age at delivery.


CONCLUSIONS
Both IL-10 and IL-6 levels in second-trimester amniotic fluid obtained at the time of genetic amniocentesis appeared to be higher in patients who subsequently developed preterm delivery. Therefore, low amniotic fluid IL-10 production during the second trimester does not seem to be an etiology for preterm labor.
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA.
J
J
Apuzzio
Ying
Y
Chan
A
A
Al-Khan
N
N
Illsley
Pei-Lin
PL
Kim
S
S
Vonhaggen
D000328:Adult; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D008499:Medical Records; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second / Q000378:metabolism*; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D015850:Interleukin-6; D016753:Interleukin-10