title: Neutrophil elastase and interleukin-6 in amniotic fluid as indicators of chorioamnionitis and funisitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We wished to assess the diagnostic value of amniotic fluid concentrations of neutrophil elastase and interleukin-6 concentrations for the rapid detection of chorioamnionitis and funisitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study of 56 women who underwent transabdominal amniocentesis within 48 h before preterm delivery or spontaneous abortion. Statistical analyses included Student's t-test and Tukey-Kamer's HSD test. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves were drawn to assess the predictive performance of the two markers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neutrophil elastase concentrations differed significantly between patients with chorioamnionitis and other stages of chorioamnionitis, while interleukin-6 concentrations did not. To predict chorioamnionitis, concentrations of 3563 ng/ml for neutrophil elastase and 11,279 pg/ml for interleukin-6 were optimal. Comparison of ROC curves showed that neutrophil elastase was a significantly more sensitive predictor of funisitis than interleukin-6.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Amniotic fluid concentrations of neutrophil elastase are more sensitive than interleukin-6 for the rapid detection of chorioamnionitis and funisitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine, Akita, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miura
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: Hideto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hirano
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sanada
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Mikitaka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Obara
authors.forename: Yukihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Terada
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000649:Amniocentesis; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D002821:Chorioamnionitis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis*; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase / Q000032:analysis*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011379:Prognosis; D012372:ROC Curve; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase