Fetal umbilical cord blood erythropoietin, interleukin-6, pH, pO(2), pCO(2), and base excess levels in histologic and/or clinical chorioamnionitis: is the response only inflammatory?
OBJECTIVE
To determine the correlation of histological chorioamnionitis (CA) with and without clinical CA with umbilical cord blood gases, erythropoietin (EPO), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels.


METHODS
Umbilical artery blood gas analysis (pH, pO(2), pCO(2), BE) and umbilical vein EPO and IL-6 levels were measured in 202 infants from normal, histological, and no clinical CA and histological plus clinical CA pregnancies.


RESULTS
Umbilical artery blood gas analyses were not different between normal controls and histological and clinical CA groups. Blanc Stage 1 histological CA had no abnormal EPO or IL-6 umbilical blood results. EPO in umbilical venous blood was elevated only in those infants with both histological and clinical CA. Umbilical vein IL-6 levels were elevated in all advanced microscopic and clinical CA. High and low EPO groups also have corresponding high and low IL-6 levels suggesting a common stimulus for these substances.


CONCLUSIONS
Blanc stage I histological CA is probably clinically insignificant. CA is infrequently associated with abnormal umbilical artery blood gas levels. Advanced histological and clinical CA can elevate both EPO and IL-6 in umbilical blood and these may be key elements of mechanisms that effect fetal brain function.
Spellacy
William N
WN
The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Office of Clinical Research, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida 33606, USA. wrodrigu@health.usf.edu
McCarthy
Joan M
JM
Tsibris
John C M
JC
Gilbert-Barness
Enid
E
Downes
Katheryne L
KL
D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002821:Chorioamnionitis / Q000097:blood*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007249:Inflammation; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D015850:Interleukin-6; D004921:Erythropoietin; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D010100:Oxygen