IL-8 concentrations in maternal serum, amniotic fluid and cord blood in relation to different pathogens within the amniotic cavity.
OBJECTIVE
The association between elevated interleukin (IL)-8 concentrations in amniotic fluid and preterm delivery is well described. Little consideration has been given to the impact of different groups of microorganisms within the amniotic cavity on IL-8 concentration.


METHODS
We collected amniotic fluid, placental tissue and amniotic membranes during preterm cesarean sections for bacterial culture. In addition, we determined IL-8 concentrations in maternal serum, amniotic fluid and cord blood and correlated them with the various intra-amniotic pathogens isolated by bacterial culture.


RESULTS
IL-8 concentrations were determined in amniotic fluid in 107 cases, in cord blood in 185 cases and in maternal blood in 158 cases. Women with intra-amniotic Ureaplasma urealyticum infection had significantly higher amniotic fluid concentrations of IL-8 than those without (P< 0.001). In cord blood, we found significantly elevated IL-8 concentrations due to intra-amniotic infection with U. urealyticum (P=0.045) and other pathogens (P=0.04). In maternal sera, we found no significant elevation of maternal IL-8 in any of the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Intrauterine infection with U. urealyticum seems to play a profound role in the cascade of inflammation and increases IL-8 concentrations in amniotic fluid and cord blood.
Witt
Armin
A
University of Vienna Medical School, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, A -1090 Vienna/Austria. armin.witt@meduniwien.ac.at
Berger
Angelika
A
Gruber
Christian J
CJ
Petricevic
Ljubomir
L
Apfalter
Petra
P
Husslein
Peter
P
D000328:Adult; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D002821:Chorioamnionitis / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016869:Ureaplasma Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D016990:Ureaplasma urealyticum / Q000302:isolation & purification
D016209:Interleukin-8