title: Vaginal lactoferrin in asymptomatic patients at low risk for pre-term labour for shortened cervix: cervical length and interleukin-6 changes.
abstract: A total of 3,324 singleton pregnant women were screened for pre-term delivery and 128 women were finally randomised and analysed for outcome showing borderline cervical length (25-29 mm) and elevated cervico-vaginal interleukin 6 levels. To verify if vaginal administration of lactoferrin might have an influence on these variables, two groups of 64 patients were formed. Study cases were submitted to lactoferrin for 21 days; controls received no treatment. An inverse relation was found between interleukin 6 levels and cervical length. On day 30 from the beginning of the treatment, study cases showed a decrease in interleukin 6 levels and an increase in cervical length. A greater number of women with regular uterine contractions and reduced cervical consistency before the 37th week of gestation were found in the controls. Our data show that lactoferrin could play a role in reducing the number of women at risk for pre-term birth for shortened cervical length and elevated interleukin 6 levels.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Naples, Italy. mariavittorialocci@virgilio.it
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Locci
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Nazzaro
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Miranda
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Salzano
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Montagnani
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Castaldo
authors: G
authors: G
authors: De Placido
mesh_terms: D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002417:Cattle; D054791:Cervical Length Measurement; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014626:Vaginal Smears
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D015850:Interleukin-6; D007781:Lactoferrin