title: Maternal serum interleukin-6 in the management of patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical usefulness of maternal serum interleukin-6 for the detection of subclinical chorioamnionitis and in the prediction of the latency period in patients with preterm premature rupture of membrane (PPROM).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group included 60 patients at 24-34 weeks of gestation complaining of PPROM. Laboratory investigations included serial measurements of IL-6, TLC and CRP. Conservative management was carried out till 36 weeks unless delivery was indicated beforehand. The main outcome measures were the latency period and the occurrence of subclinical chorioamnionitis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean gestational age at presentation was 30.9 weeks and 35.2 weeks at delivery. The mean IL-6 level at presentation was 4.7 pg/ml. There was no correlation between IL-6 at presentation and the latency period. In addition, those diagnosed as having subclinical chorioamnionitis by placental histopathology had significantly higher levels of IL-6 at delivery. Taking IL-6 level cutoff point of 8.5 pg/ml, histological chorioamnionitis, RDS and NICU admission were significantly higher above that level while neonatal birth weight, Apgar scores at one and five minutes were significantly lower.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maternal serum IL-6 at the time of PPROM has no correlation to the latency period while IL-6 levels at the time of delivery have significant correlation to the subclinical chorioamnionitis and neonatal outcome measures.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Suez Canal University , Ismailia , Egypt.
authors.forename: Waleed Ali
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Sayed Ahmed
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Suez Canal University , Ismailia , Egypt.
authors.forename: Magdy Refaat
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Suez Canal University , Ismailia , Egypt.
authors.forename: Mariam Lotfi
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Mohamed
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Suez Canal University , Ismailia , Egypt.
authors.forename: Mostafa Ahmed
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hamdy
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Suez Canal University , Ismailia , Egypt.
authors.forename: Zenab
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kamel
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Suez Canal University , Ismailia , Egypt.
authors.forename: Khaled Mohamed
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Elnahas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000382:microbiology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001724:Birth Weight; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002821:Chorioamnionitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D010920:Placenta / Q000473:pathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D015850:Interleukin-6; D004917:Erythromycin; D003907:Dexamethasone; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: C-reactive protein; interleukin-6; placental histopathology; preterm premature rupture of membranes; subclinical chorioamnionitis; total leucocytic count