title: Interleukin-6 and Mycoplasma hominis as markers of preterm birth and related brain damage: our experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to investigate whether a high concentration of interleukin-6 (IL)-6 in the amniotic fluid is associated to a higher risk of preterm delivery, premature rupture of the membranes (PROM), and periventricular leucomalacia (PVL) in preterm infants; we have further investigated whether the levels of IL-6 are related to the presence of vaginal infection by mycoplasms.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred eight patients were screened by vaginal swab, sonography, amniocentesis, and dosage of IL-6 in the amniotic fluid during the second trimester of pregnancy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High levels of IL-6 and vaginal mycoplasms are related to preterm birth and PROM. We had no case of PLV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In order to achieve a good therapeutic purpose and get to an efficient strategy, the patients have to be elected by a number of criteria, which may include anamnesis elements, vaginal swab, then cytokines dosage in selected women, thus excluding the low-risk cases. Further studies are expected in order to plan guidelines including the dosage of ILs and principally of IL-6 as a main marker of preterm birth, above all during the second trimester.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Second University of Naples, Caserta, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Massaro
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scaravilli
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Simeone
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Capuano
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pastore
authors.forename: Amelia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Forte
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parisi
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferraiolo
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Costanzo
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Balbi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000649:Amniocentesis; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis*; D007969:Leukomalacia, Periventricular / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D019535:Mycoplasma hominis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015850:Interleukin-6