title: Vaginal lactoferrin administration before genetic amniocentesis decreases amniotic interleukin-6 levels.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To verify the eventual efficacy of lactoferrin (LF), an iron-binding glycoprotein, to decrease the amniotic concentration of interleukin-6 (IL-6).
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively enrolled 60 Caucasian patients at the 16th week of their singleton physiological gestation. A vaginal compound containing 300 mg of LF was administered randomly 4 or 12 h prior to amniocentesis, as to obtain 3 groups: A, 20 untreated patients; B, 20 treated 4 h before amniocentesis; C, 20 treated 12 h before amniocentesis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A normal karyotype was registered in all cases. The comparison of the distribution of IL-6 among the 3 groups showed a highly significant difference (p = 0.001). The difference between mean values of group B and both groups C and A was shown to be highly significant (p = 0.006 and p = 0.03, respectively). In contrast, there was no significant difference between mean values of groups A and C.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vaginal LF administration decreases amniotic IL-6 concentration. We therefore suggest that the glycoprotein may exert a protective role against ominous pregnancy complications linked to an increased level of the cytokine, such as abortion secondary to amniocentesis.
authors.affiliation: Section of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Fortunato
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vesce
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giugliano
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bignardi
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cagnazzo
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Colamussi
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marci
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Valente
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seraceni
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maritati
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Contini
mesh_terms: D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000328:Adult; D000649:Amniocentesis; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D063868:Patient Outcome Assessment; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D015850:Interleukin-6; D007781:Lactoferrin