title: [A study of the relationship among interleukin-8, cortisol and idiopathic preterm labor].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effect of interleukin-8 and cortisol on the onset of idiopathic preterm labor (PL).
  
  
  METHODS
  In 35 women with preterm labor and 17 controls, maternal serum and urine samples were collected. Interleukin-8 concentration was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay, serum cortisol level was measured by radioimmunoassay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The concentration of interleukin-8 in maternal serum and urine and cortisol in serum were significantly higher in PL group than those in the control [(0.26 +/- 0.13) microg/L vs (0.16 +/- 0.08) microg/L, (0.16 +/- 0.15) x 10(-2) g/mol Cr vs (0.04 +/- 0.02) x 10(-2) g/mol Cr, (765.83 +/- 408.55) microg/L vs (512.41 +/- 142.65) microg/L; P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.01, respectively]. A strong correlation was found ammong interleukin-8 and cortisol concentration in maternal serum in PL (r = 0.448; P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a strong relationship between interleukin-8 and cortisol in the onset of preterm labor. Immune system and endocrine system might be involved in the mechanisms of idiopathic preterm labor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine*; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine; D011247:Pregnancy; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
chemical_list: D016209:Interleukin-8; D006854:Hydrocortisone