The value of cord blood interleukin-6 levels for predicting chorioamnionitis, funisitis and neonatal infection in term premature rupture of membranes.
OBJECTIVE
The objective was to determine whether the interleukin-6 (IL-6) level in umbilical cord blood can be used for the prediction of histologic chorioamnionitis, funisitis, fetal membrane cultures and neonatal infection.


METHODS
A case-control study was conducted on 30 controls (control group) and on 40 women with term premature rupture of the membranes (PROM group). The interleukin-6 concentration of cord blood was measured. Fetal membranes and newborn blood were cultured. Placentas were examined for histologic chorioamnionitis and funisitis. Receiver operator curve analysis was used to obtain a cut-off value of interleukin-6 concentration for predicting histological and clinical infection.


RESULTS
The mean interleukin-6 level in cord blood was significantly higher in the PROM group (p=0.01). Histological chorioamnionitis and positive placental cultures were significantly higher in the PROM group (p=0.006 and 0.02, respectively). The PROM group had seven (17.5%) cases of funisitis and positive newborn blood cultures while neither was observed in the control group. A cord blood interleukin-6 level >29 pg/ml was found to have 84% sensitivity and 72.5% specificity for predicting positive placental cultures and 74.1% sensitivity and 76.7% specificity for identifying cases of histologic chorioamnionitis. For predicting funisitis and positive newborn cord blood cultures a cord blood interleukin-6 level >39 pg/ml has 100% sensitivity and 81% specificity.


CONCLUSIONS
Cord blood interleukin-6 level can be a tool for the evaluation of the extent of maternal-fetal infection and guides proper planning of the treatment.
Tasci
Yasemin
Y
Department of Obstetrics, Ministry of Health Ankara, Etlik Maternity and Women's Health Research Training Hospital, Guvenlik Cad, 21/5, 06190 Kavaklidere, Ankara, Turkey. yytasci@yahoo.com
Dilbaz
Berna
B
Uzmez Onal
Binnur
B
Caliskan
Eray
E
Dilbaz
Serdar
S
Doganci
Levent
L
Han
Unsal
U
D000328:Adult; D002821:Chorioamnionitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007239:Infections / Q000209:etiology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D010920:Placenta / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D015850:Interleukin-6