title: Maternal serum interleukin-6 and its association with clinicopathological infectious morbidity in preterm premature rupture of membranes: a prospective cohort study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the association of maternal serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) with fetomaternal outcome in preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM).
  
  
  METHODS
  Serial serum IL-6 levels were measured in 45 women with PPROM at gestation 24-34 weeks. The women were followed till pueperium and fetomaternal outcome as well as the histopathology of the placenta and the umbilical cord was studied. The data were analyzed using t test and χ(2) test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IL-6 levels ≥ 8 pg/ml were significantly associated with puerperal sepsis and neonatal sepsis. Histological chorioamnionitis and funisitis were demonstrated in 48.8% and 13.3% women respectively and significantly correlated with elevated serum IL-6 levels and fetomaternal infection. A cut-off value of IL-6 of 8 pg/ml was found to correctly diagnose 19 out of 23 patients with infectious morbidity and showed the best sensitivity (82.6%) and specificity (86.3%) as compared to the total leucocycte count (TLC) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in diagnosing infection in PPROM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maternal serum IL-6 can be used as a biomarker to predict preclinical asymptomatic infection in PPROM with good sensitivity and specificity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Lady Hardinge Medical College & Smt. Sucheta Kriplani Hospital, New Delhi, India. shilpagulati82@gmail.com
authors.forename: Shilpa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gulati
authors.forename: Swati
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Agrawal
authors.forename: Chitra
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Raghunandan
authors.forename: Jayashree
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bhattacharya
authors.forename: Arvind
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saili
authors.forename: Shilpi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.forename: Deepika
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sharma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D007239:Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D009017:Morbidity; D009035:Mothers; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6