Cord blood levels of IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 may be early predictors of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm newborns small for gestational age.
BACKGROUND
Various cytokines have been associated to the occurrence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm neonates.


OBJECTIVE
To establish an association between cord blood cytokines and BPD, so that they could be used, in clinical practice, as early markers of BPD.


METHODS
Preterms less than 30 weeks gestational age, were analysed by ELISA microassay for venous cord blood IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α and IL-10, and compared between the BPD and non-BPD groups.


RESULTS
One hundred and fifty neonates completed the study; 31 (21%) small for gestational age (SGA); 16 were deceased before 28 days of life; 36 developed mild BPD and 20 developed moderate/severe BPD. Elevated cord blood IL-8 was associated with death or moderate/severe BPD. SGA patients with moderate/severe BPD presented higher cord blood values of IL-8, lower IL-6 and IL-10 when compared with SGA without moderate/severe BPD; and higher IL-8 levels when compared with patients without moderate/severe BPD.


CONCLUSIONS
These results support an association between cord blood IL-8 and moderate/severe BPD, independently of the intra-uterine growth; and the association of cord blood IL-6 and IL-10 and moderate/severe BPD in SGA preterm newborns.
Division of Neonatology, Hospital de São João, Porto, Portugal. gusrocha@oninet.pt
Gustavo
G
Rocha
Elisa
E
Proença
Ana
A
Guedes
Carmen
C
Carvalho
Augusta
A
Areias
João Pedro
JP
Ramos
Teresa
T
Rodrigues
Hercília
H
Guimarães
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
D015415:Biomarkers; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10