Relationship between meconium staining and thymic stromal lymphopoietin.
OBJECTIVE
Epithelium-derived thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), is a key pro-allergic cytokine that has recently been linked to chronic airway diseases. Our aim is to determine cord blood TSLP levels in pregnancies with meconium stained amniotic fluid.


METHODS
A total of 44 pregnant women with meconium stained amniotic fluid and a total of 44 healthy pregnant women were enrolled in the study. Cord blood TSLP was measured with TSLP ELISA Kit.


RESULTS
We found no statistically significant differences between 2 groups in terms of age and parity. TSLP levels were found to be significantly higher in the cord blood of pregnant women with meconium stained amniotic fluid (104.3 ± 96.9 ng/ml) compared with the control group (63.2 ± 65.3 ng/ml) (p = 0.022).


CONCLUSIONS
It seems that TSLP is produced and released in response to meconium.
Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Zekai Tahir Burak Women Health Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. aaktulay@yahoo.com.
A
A
Aktulay
Y
Y
Engin-Ustun
M S
MS
Ozkan
C
C
Demirtas
O
O
Yenicesu
E G Y
EG
Eyi
L
L
Mollamahmutoglu
D000328:Adult; D000653:Amniotic Fluid; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008470:Meconium; D011247:Pregnancy; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D055815:Young Adult; D000094632:Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin
D016207:Cytokines; D000094632:Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin